One year after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Green and Digital Shipping Corridor, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Port of Los Angeles, and Port of Long Beach have completed a comprehensive baselining study.
The study forecasts more green jobs, health improvements for local communities and economic benefits for participating countries, emphasizing the future demand for zero- and near-zero emission fuels and the benefits from decarbonising the shipping routes between the nations, according to the Port of Los Angeles.
It was commissioned by C40 Cities and the ports, and conducted by the American Bureau of Shipping, analysed maritime trade flows between Singapore, Los Angeles and Long Beach, and provided a baseline of activities and energy demand requirements for vessels operating on the corridor through to 2050.
Following the corridor’s Partnership Strategy debut at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference, the study projects fuel needs for low and zero-emission vessels until 2050. It analyses factors like fuel costs and availability in line with the 2023 IMO emissions reduction goals.
The study also emphasizes the socioeconomic benefits and job creation potential of transitioning to cleaner fuels and utilising digital technologies. It suggests that full corridor implementation could generate 700+ new jobs in cleaner fuel production and enhance local air quality.
These estimates support findings by C40 and other organisations that activities undertaken through green shipping corridors can accelerate wider decarbonisation across the maritime industry and unlock health benefits for local communities and green economy opportunities for participating countries, reported the port.
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“This study provides a sense of scale and scope to inform our implementation of the Green and Digital Shipping Corridor,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka.
“Achieving the reductions of greenhouse gas emissions required will take coordination and commitment from public and private stakeholders across the maritime and goods movement industries.
“We’re proud to be collaborating with industry partners to make this corridor a reality.”
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“The Port of Long Beach and its partners have been very successful reducing emissions from cargo-handling equipment, trucks and other mobile sources moving cargo in our harbor,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero.
“One of the most important parts of this partnership is it allows us to better understand and target a source of emissions that is hard for us to control as a local seaport authority – shipborne emissions.
“This work, vital to our net zero-emission quest, will result in economic and health benefits all along the trans-Pacific trade corridor.”
Join us at the second edition of Greentech at World Trade Center Barcelona on 7-8 May! Greentech 2024 will focus on key topics such as electrification, sustainable infrastructure, green shipping, technology, digitalisation and decarbonisation.
