The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Dutch Port of Rotterdam have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly develop a sustainable and digitalized shipping industry, as reported by Strait Times on August 2. Specifically, the two port authorities will trial low- and zero-carbon fuels on the 15,000 kilometers (km) route between Singapore and the major logistic and economic center of the Netherlands. In addition, the two port cities will share relevant data, electronic documents, and standards for the convenience of vessels and the digitalization of the shipping industry. The two entities also vowed to realize the first sustainable vessel sailing on the route by 2027.

Ports cannot realize decarbonization on their own steam, as shipping is a network solution involving multiple partners, according to Singapore Transport Minister S. Iswaran. The minister also hopes the collaboration with Rotterdam could prompt other trade partners of Singapore to adopt greener shipping solutions. Nevertheless, the MPA also admitted that each alternative fuel faces challenges in terms of cost, availability, safety, and range restrictions. Therefore, the MPA and the Port of Rotterdam have gathered shippers, fuel suppliers, and other companies to tackle these issues in the next few years. Similarly, in January, the ports of Los Angeles and Shanghai inked a partnership to establish a green shipping corridor on the world’s busiest container shipping routes, aiming to introduce the world’s first zero-carbon fueled transpacific container ships in the corridor by 2030.

Sources:

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/singapore-and-rotterdam-team-up-to-push-cleaner-fuel-digitalisation-on-shipping-route

https://www.offshore-energy.biz/singapore-and-rotterdam-to-set-up-worlds-longest-green-corridor/eiei

https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ports-logistics/la-and-shanghai-ports-green-shipping-corridor-partnership

https://www.c40.org/news/la-shanghai-green-shipping-corridor/hayv