From Tananger to Moss - Westport’s fossil-free future takes shape
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Westport Moss: A glimpse into Norway’s first fossil-free container terminal
With its official opening in January 2025, Westport Moss is more than just a terminal, it’s a vision realised. Purpose-built for zero-emissions operations and high digital integration, the site exemplifies a new era in sustainable cargo handling. Fully electric reach-stackers, a dedicated dry port, and future-ready remote systems are already transforming the Port of Moss into a model of efficiency. For CEO Kristian Løvaas, Westport Moss is a proving ground for how terminals can balance service excellence, operational calm, and climate responsibility. Just months in, the site is already setting a benchmark for what’s possible – today and tomorrow.
When Westport Moss officially opened in January 2025, it marked a strategic milestone for Westport and parent company NorSea (and for Wilhelmsen as a NorSea owner). Retrofitted for fully electric operations, the terminal reflects a shared ambition: to deliver efficient, zero-emissions container handling through a lean, smart and scalable model.
Less than a year in, the Port of Moss is running at high utilisation, serving key cargo flows to central Norway and leveraging an expansive dry port in nearby Moss Business Park. With digital systems, electrified equipment and remote operations on the horizon, Westport is not only fulfilling its contract but offering a practical blueprint for the next generation of terminals.
PAVING THE WAY FOR TRANSFORMATION
The Westport story has its roots on Norway’s west coast, where liner traffic was shifted from Stavanger city centre to Risavika in the 1990s. After Shell closed its refinery there in 1999, public and private partners developed the site into a new regional cargo port under the company Risavika Havn, which opened for commercial traffic in 2008. In 2010, Risavika Havn took over the terminal company from NorSea, renaming it Risavika Terminal. Six years later, in 2016, the operation was rebranded as Westport – with the clear goal of scalability as a neutral third-party terminal operator, focused on moving freight in a simpler, smarter and more sustainable way.
The company proved itself by tripling volumes over ten years. Then in 2023, the Port of Moss was seeking a new operator for its container terminal, which gave Westport the opportunity to bring its model to the Oslofjord region.
“The Port of Moss had the courage to demand something better than the status quo,” says Løvaas. “They didn’t just want a service provider – they wanted a motivated partner for a new journey. Innovation and development were baked into the contract from the outset.”
With Westport's winning bid came a bold commitment: to make Moss the first fully fossil-free container terminal in Norway.
LONG-TERM THINKING
The push for zero emissions wasn’t just a response to the tender. It was part of a broader vision. “We could have waited,” says Løvaas. “The contract gave us until 2026 to complete the transition. But it made no sense to invest in new diesel equipment just to replace it a few years later.”
Instead, the administration made the leap – investing in four fully electric reach-stackers and committing to electrify its terminal tractor as soon as the technology matures. With the port already operating an electric gantry crane and installing EV chargers, the full transition was possible from day one.
It wasn’t cheap. Electrified equipment costs two to three times more than diesel. And while operating costs are lower, Løvaas is clear: “You don’t make the investment back on fuel savings alone. This is about values, long-term thinking and doing what we know the industry will demand five years from now.”
It helps to have owners who share that view. “Wilhelmsen and NorSea understand what it means to lead. We’re not here solely to maximise next quarter’s margin. We’re here to build something that lasts.”
CUSTOMERS WATCHING CLOSELY
Going fossil-free has attracted attention – and questions. “Some customers are very supportive – especially those under pressure to report their Scope 3 emissions,” says Løvaas. “For them, being able to move cargo through a zero-emissions terminal is a big deal for their value chain.”
But not all are chasing ESG metrics. “Others ask, ‘So what’s in it for us?’ And that’s a fair question – and where we focus on delivering concrete bottom-line benefits: shorter waiting times, better visibility and simpler coordination. Sustainability means good business too. It has to be practical.”
PULLING ITS WEIGHT
Moss isn't a large port in terms of traffic. The container terminal handles around 200 port calls per year – mostly early in the week. But the volume of containers it processes tells another story.
In 2025, the port is expected to move more than twice as many boxes as Tananger. While Tananger handles roughly 1,900 port calls and generates NOK 115 million in annual revenue with a full-time team of 32, this year Moss is expecting NOK 72 million from just 13 full-time employees – thanks to its streamlined set-up and focused container flows.
“Volumes are high because Moss connects directly to some of Norway’s most important central storage areas,” Løvaas explains. “And with fewer vessel types to handle, we can optimise for speed and simplicity.”
TIGHT COLLABORATION
The success of Moss has depended not only on Westport’s model – but on the quality of collaboration with the port owner.
“They’re not just a landlord,” says Løvaas. “They’ve challenged us, worked with us and set high expectations. That’s a good thing. They want this terminal to be a model for the future, and we’re aligned on that.”
A long-term contract – running to 2049, with renegotiation in 2032 – gives both sides the stability to invest in systems and infrastructure with confidence.
TWO LOCATIONS, ONE TERMINAL
One of the terminal’s most important assets isn’t at the waterfront at all – it’s six kilometres inland.
Westport Moss includes a dedicated dry port in Moss Business Park, positioned strategically between the Oslofjord and major logistics clusters. It’s home to clients like discount variety retailer Europris, whose massive 84,000-square-metre warehouse receives some 6,000 containers annually.
“Having the dry port gives us breathing room,” says Løvaas. “We can use the limited quayside space in Moss for fast vessel turnaround, and move overflow or long-dwell containers to the dry port.”
It’s a model designed for scale – and operational calm. It also required intense coordination during the early months. “There was some confusion and we had to get everyone – from suppliers to snowplough drivers – clear on which site their task applied to. Those are the small things that make a big difference.”
TRIAL BY ICE
Launching a fully electric terminal in the dead of winter might not have been ideal – but it proved the streamlined Westport concept. “We had minus-18 degrees and heavy snowfall,” Løvaas recalls. “We learned quickly where routines needed strengthening!”
The key was battery thermal management. The reach-stackers are equipped with systems that heat or cool battery packs depending on conditions. There were hiccups early on, but the supplier responded quickly, and performance stabilised within weeks.
To de-risk operations, Westport kept two diesel reach-stackers on site as backup. “We’ve gradually reduced the use of diesel and will phase out the back-up machines within the year,” says Løvaas.
SMARTPORT IN PRACTICE
The Moss terminal also serves as the proving ground for Westport’s SmartPort approach – rooted in standardisation and data-driven operations.
Everything is planned and tracked digitally. Load lists are received electronically, container moves are optimised for minimal handling and new digital tools will reduce friction throughout the logistics chain.
A key feature now being implemented is SmartGate: a scanning system that photographs every truck and container as it enters or leaves the terminal. The technology, funded in part by the Norwegian Coastal Administration, helps resolve damage claims and build trust with customers, as well as facilitating an effective access to the terminal.
“We’ve experienced claims dropping with the implementation of SmartGates in Stavanger,” says Løvaas. “Once people know we have images and records, there’s less ambiguity – and fewer arguments.”
UPSKILLING WORKFORCE
For all the tech upgrades, Løvaas is quick to point out that Westport Moss runs on people – not machines.
“You don’t need a university degree to be part of this team,” he says. “What you need is curiosity, motivation and a willingness to grow and develop.”
That mindset was front and centre during hiring. Workers were brought in for their openness to new tools and systems. Many came from practical backgrounds but have adapted quickly to new ways of working.
“One of the best experiences has been how naturally some of the younger crew took to the digital systems,” Løvaas notes. “A lot of them grew up gaming. That skillset – operating multiple systems at once, managing real-time feedback – it transfers directly.”
Upskilling is part of the job. As remote operations increase, the team will need to learn new roles – but no one is being left behind.
“This transition isn’t about removing people. It’s about evolving together.”
NEXT STEP REMOTE OPS
One of the next milestones is a move to remote-controlled crane operations. The goal is to relocate crane operators from the cab to a centralised control room – with panoramic screens, ergonomic setups and joystick-style interfaces.
“The Port of Moss already has a pilot project underway,” Løvaas confirms. “We’ve seen the benefits elsewhere, and Moss is well-suited as a testing ground.”
Eventually, other operations – from yard handling to gate entry – may also be run remotely or autonomous. But again, the emphasis is not on automation for its own sake.
DECARBONISING BEYOND THE TERMINAL
The terminal itself may be fossil-free – but Westport’s ambitions go further. Working with logistics partners like Prime Cargo, the company is helping decarbonise the entire supply chain from vessel to warehouse.
It’s already happening. Food distributor ASKO’s autonomous, fully electric drone vessels – managed by Massterly, the Wilhelmsen-Kongsberg Group joint venture dedicated to advancing autonomous shipping projects – now operate out of the Oslofjord in what is a first for Europe. ASKO trucks embark at Moss and disembark at Horten on the western side of the fjord without emissions.
Meanwhile, more low-emission vessels are joining the shortsea fleet – powered by alternative fuels including methanol and ammonia.
“Already next year – dependent on the delivery of new ships and subject to them calling at the Port of Moss – we may be able to offer emission-free transport from Rotterdam or Bremerhaven all the way to the goods owner,” says Løvaas.
ONE BOTTLENECK REMAINS: THE ROAD
For all the innovation inside the terminal, one challenge remains unresolved: local road infrastructure.
“All our containers still need to leave Moss by truck,” says Løvaas. “And the road network wasn’t built for today’s volumes.”
The main exit point – a roundabout shared with ferry traffic – regularly gets clogged. The municipality has plans, but political agreement and funding remain elusive.
Still, Westport is pushing. “Our cooperation model with the Port of Moss is strong. And we’ve seen in Stavanger how collaboration can lead to real infrastructure improvements. We’ll keep pushing for the same here.”
INVALUABLE NAVY EXPERIENCE
Løvaas came to Westport via an unconventional route. A former Norwegian Navy officer, he describes those early years as formative especially for analysing and building teams.
“I got a taste for structure and logistics,” he says. “It wasn’t about ships, it was about flow – how to make things work under pressure, with clarity and discipline.”
After leaving the Navy, he moved into port operations and development.
“What excites me is building smart systems, with enthusiastic people, for long-term value.”
A QUIET REVOLUTION
Moss may be a small port but its impact is larger than its footprint. By combining zero-emissions equipment, smart logistics and a capable team, Westport is showing how terminals can evolve with both responsibility and efficiency. Crucially, it is doing so with the backing of NorSea and Wilhelmsen as cornerstone owners and long-term partners – an ownership model that enables steady investment, patient development and genuine collaboration. Together, they are shaping a project that points firmly toward the future.