A Memorandum of Understanding signed between the three ports in April of this year has now been consolidated into a partnership strategy with the port administrations of LA and LB and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) working together to implement the corridor. The project is also fully supported by C40 Cities – a global network of mayors of the world’s leading cities that are united and determined to reduce carbon emissions from their cities.

“This Partnership Strategy document is the foundation upon which we’ll build the future of maritime shipping,” explained Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. “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.”

Mario Cordero, Port of Long Beach CEO, agreed. “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,” he said. “This transpacific green shipping corridor takes this concept global.”

He added: “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.”

Mark Watts, executive director of C40 Cities, also stressed the importance of collaboration. “C40 Cities is proud to support our port partners in delivering  this partnership strategy,” he said. “The advancement of this Green and Digital Shipping Corridor brings the shipping sector one step closer to a 1.5 degrees Celsius-aligned trajectory.

“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 Cities is delighted to help, bringing our network of worldleading cities, which include most of the world’s largest and most forward-looking ports.”

The ports are now putting together a strategy to accelerate the decarbonisation of the trade by enabling first movers to  achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by the earliest feasible date and in support of the goals defined by the 2023 International Maritime Organization’s policies on reducing GHG emissions from ships.

To help this process, the three ports and C40 Cities have commissioned a study to assess trade flows and vessel movements between Singapore, LA and LB. According to the parties, this research will help to determine the amount of near-zero and zero-emission fuels needed for this traffic, as well as guide implementation for the corridor’s future growth.

The ports will also engage with stakeholders from across the shipping and fuel supply value chains that share the partnership’s vision and aims, with the intention of what the ports described as ‘onboarding’ new corridor participants in 2024.

Commenting on behalf of the MPA, Teo Eng Dih, its CEO, said “We are excited to see this partnership grow from strength to strength with the green and digital shipping corridor Partnership Strategy. 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.”

In September, MPA signed three MoUs with regional maritime administrations and partners in China to further collaboration on decarbonisation, digitalisation, talent development, and information sharing. PSA Singapore also has a number of arrangements in place with other stakeholders, including shipping lines such as Pacific International Lines, to help decarbonise supply chains and port operations.

Meanwhile, earlier this year the two San Pedro Bay ports and Shanghai announced a ‘Green Shipping Corridor Implementation Plan’ (see WorldCargoNews, September 2023, p6).

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This complete item is approximately 665 words in length, and appeared in the December 2023 issue of WorldCargo News, on page 7. To access this issue download the PDF here