Author: Nicole de Jong

POHM: Could you briefly explain what ETS Degassing does?

David Wendel: ETS Degassing removes harmful hydrocarbons from the ambient air. We use mobile technologies to filter out volatile organic compounds (VOCs) directly on site and burn them safely. Our core expertise lies in the safe and environmentally responsible degassing of vessels. Such degassing is required when changing between products – for example, when a tanker switches from diesel to ethanol, before shipyard stays, or to comply with international environmental regulations. By doing so, we minimise emissions and prevent explosion risks.

What role does your company play in European port and maritime logistics?

We lead the way in delivering safe, legally sound degassing services for both inland and seagoing ships. In Duisburg, we established Germany’s first official degassing facility – a model we now intend to transfer to other European ports. Approvals for Amsterdam and Rotterdam are close to being finalised, and in Antwerp we expect them by the end of next year. In this manner, we combine legal certainty, technical expertise, and ecological responsibility – helping shipping logistics maintain fully environmentally sound processes.

Your company headquarters are in Amelinghausen near Lüneburg, south of Hamburg. Are you planning activities in Hamburg as well?

Hamburg is a key location for us, and we are already active there on a selective basis – for example, working with tank farms and terminals on the management of residual cargo loads. We are also examining whether a degassing project similar to the one in Duisburg could be realised in Hamburg. However, this requires suitable sites, official permits, and close coordination with the port authority. At the same time, we are observing a structural change – in Hamburg as well as across Germany: refineries are closing and production capacities are being reduced. This is why our focus extends not only to the Hanseatic city but also to locations such as Brunsbüttel, the coastal region leading up to Rostock and Denmark. The entire northern region, with its major oil ports, is of strategic importance to us.

How has your business developed in a European context – and where do you currently see the greatest potential for growth?

We have deliberately expanded our European business in recent years and strengthened our presence with our own business units in Germany, the Netherlands, and France. At present, we see the greatest growth potential in the Nordic region – in Scandinavia and beyond – where sustainable solutions for ports and logistics are in particularly high demand. We have also identified further opportunities in Spain and the United Kingdom.

Which European environmental and safety standards define your work – and how differently are they implemented across member states?

Our operations are guided by European environmental and safety standards – in particular the ‘European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways’ (ADN), the CDNI Convention for Inland Navigation, and the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) for industrial facilities such as refineries and chemical plants.

In Germany, the Federal Immission Control Act (BIm- SchG) and the ‘Technical Instructions on Air Quality Control’ (TA Luft) are authoritative. National interpretations, however, can vary – for example, in the assessment of individual substances such as benzene in France.

In addition, ESG criteria – Environmental, Social and Governance – and sustainability in general are gaining in importance. A key driver is CO₂ pricing: since almost all harmful gases can be converted into CO₂ equivalents, emissions gain direct economic relevance. Environmental and climate protection measures are therefore not only ecologically meaningful, but increasingly an economic necessity. At the same time, occupational safety and health protection are moving even more into focus – as fundamental pillars of responsible corporate governance.

What would you like the EU to do to further promote sustainable maritime industrial processes - for example in the Port of Hamburg?

This is currently a highly sensitive topic, particularly since the International Maritime Organization (IMO) postponed its net-zero targets. This has a direct impact on investments, storage structures, and the production of sustainable fuels.

Environmental protection is a core element of our business – but it also requires a sense of proportion. If climate policy results in industrial processes in Europe coming to a standstill or investments relocating elsewhere, no one benefits.

Reliable regulations for alternative fuels such as LNG, bio-LNG, or ammonia are therefore essential – as well as support for safe handling and emissions treatment. This will allow us to shape the maritime energy transition in a practical and economically viable way – including in the Port of Hamburg.

"Europe, to me, stands
above all for freedom –
the freedom to grow,
to discover different perspectives,
and at the same time to share
common values."

David Wendel
Managing Director of ETS Degassing

What does ‘Europe’ mean to you personally – economically and culturally?

Europe, to me, stands above all for freedom – the freedom to grow, to discover different perspectives, and at the same time to share common values. Culturally, we are often closer than we think – it is the subtle nuances that distinguish and inspire us. Economically, Europe represents enormous potential – but also poses a challenge: the current political tensions and lack of cohesion are inefficient and can cause considerable harm. Nevertheless, I firmly believe in Europe as a project for the future – provided that politics, business, and associations prioritise cooperation and compromise over national self-interest