The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the Port of Los Angeles, and the Port of Long Beach have announced a Partnership Strategy for a green and digital maritime corridor across the Pacific Ocean.
The collaboration is sponsored by C40 Cities, with the goal of creating a green and digital maritime corridor connecting the three global hub ports.
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director, Gene Seroka, said: “This Partnership Strategy document is the foundation upon which we’ll build the future of maritime shipping. 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.”
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Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero, stated: “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. 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.”
The strategy, which was released on 6 December, outlines steps to accelerate the decarbonisation of the maritime shipping industry by enabling first movers to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by the earliest feasible date, in support of the goals defined by the 2023 International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s Strategy on reducing GHG Emissions from ships.
To accomplish these objectives, a partnership structure and governance mechanism were created to clarify the duties and responsibilities of corridor partners.
The ports and C40 have commissioned a study to assess trade flows and vessel traffic between Singapore, Los Angeles, and Long Beach as the next stage.
The research will reportedly determine the amount of near-zero and zero-emission fuels needed for this traffic, as well as guide implementation by finding potential for partnership to further the corridor’s growth.
The founding partners said they 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.
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Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive of the MPA, 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.”
Mark Watts, C40 Cities Executive Director, added: “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.
“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-leading cities, which include most of the world’s largest and most forward-looking ports.”
