At the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles unveiled a Partnership Strategy for a green and digital shipping corridor across the Pacific Ocean.
The scope of cooperation and success indicators specified in the strategy reaffirms the corridor partners’ commitment to drive global action to digitalise and decarbonise the shipping industry and improve efficiencies.
Green and digital shipping corridor
The release of the Partnership Strategy follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding by MPA, Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles during Singapore Maritime Week in April 2023. The signing formalised the partnership, which is supported by C40 Cities, with the aim of establishing a green and digital shipping corridor connecting the three global hub ports.
Release of the Partnership Strategy follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding by MPA
“Over the last two decades, we’ve learned that collaboration between maritime industry partners is the key to making meaningful progress in reducing emissions and cleaning the air,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “This trans-Pacific green shipping corridor takes this concept global. The strategies we develop here can be used as a roadmap by a larger network of seaports and supply chain companies to invest in programmes, technologies, software and infrastructure to decarbonise international trade everywhere.”
Goals by International Maritime Organisation’s Strategy
“This Partnership Strategy document is the foundation upon which we’ll build the future of maritime shipping,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “Our success requires the resolve and dedication of the three partnering ports as well as our industry partners. Together, we will model the collaboration necessary to achieve our climate and efficiency goals.”
Ports and C40 will work together with value-chain stakeholders from the fuel and maritime sectors
The strategy released Wednesday outlines steps to accelerate decarbonisation of the maritime shipping industry by enabling first-mover organisations to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the earliest feasible date, in support of the goals defined by the 2023 International Maritime Organisation’s Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships. The ports and C40 will work together and with value-chain stakeholders from the fuel and maritime sectors to:
- Coordinate decarbonisation efforts: Partners will help to catalyse and coordinate efforts to enable ships calling at the Port of Singapore, Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the earliest feasible date.
- Build consensus on green shipping best practices: Partners will seek to establish consensus around green shipping best practices and standards.
- Improve access to and adoption of technology and digital solutions: To enhance supply chain efficiency, resilience and decarbonisation while reducing costs and improving reliability, partners will work to develop and deploy innovative technology and digital solutions.
- Leverage networks: Partners will work with stakeholders involved in other green shipping initiatives, including those established by the three ports and other parties, to scale the uptake of zero and near-zero emission technologies, fuels and energy sources.
Roles and responsibilities of corridor partners
The study will estimate the quantity of near-zero and zero-emission fuels required for this traffic
To achieve these aims, a partnership structure and governance mechanism have been developed to provide clarity on the roles and responsibilities of corridor partners. The strategy also outlines processes for onboarding new participants, financial management, confidentiality and decision-making.
As the next steps, the ports and C40 have commissioned a study to analyse trade flows and vessel traffic between Singapore, Los Angeles and Long Beach. The study will estimate the quantity of near-zero and zero-emission fuels required for this traffic, and guide implementation by identifying opportunities for collaboration to advance the development of the corridor.
New corridor participants in 2024
The founding partners will now engage stakeholders from across the shipping and fuel supply value chains that share the partnership’s vision and aims, with the intention of onboarding new corridor participants in 2024.
We look forward to the support of all the corridor stakeholders over the coming months"
“We are excited to see this partnership grow from strength to strength with the Green and Digital Shipping Corridor Partnership Strategy,” said Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive of the MPA. “We have embarked on evaluating the various digital solutions and zero and near-zero fuels options that could be trialled along the route between Singapore and the San Pedro Bay Port Complex. We look forward to the support of all the corridor stakeholders over the coming months to conduct trials and potentially scale them for wider adoption.”
Author's quote
“C40 is proud to support our port partners in delivering this Partnership Strategy. The advancement of this Green and Digital Shipping Corridor brings the shipping sector one step closer to a 1.5 degrees Celsius-aligned trajectory,” said C40 Cities Executive Director Mark Watts.
“Green shipping is only achievable through collaboration because no one stakeholder can afford to move unless they know others are likely to follow. That’s where C40 is delighted to help, bringing our network of world-pioneering cities, which include most of the world’s largest and most forward-looking ports.”
