“This transpacific green corridor will be a model for the global cooperation needed to accelerate change throughout the maritime industry. Reducing emissions in this corridor will yield significant reductions. For perspective, most of the emissions associated with moving cargo by ship occur in the mid-ocean part of the journey between ports. This corridor will help reduce mid-ocean emissions while continuing the work we have done to cut emissions within our ports” - Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles
In 2020, a total of 25 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo was transported across transpacific routes.
During the same period, 31.2 million TEUs were transported across the Pacific Ocean. This accounts for a remarkable 21% of the world's container movement. (As reported during the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.)
Since 2020, cargo volumes on transpacific routes have seen a 15% increase, according to the IMO.
This data underscores the critical role played by the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Shanghai.
These ports serve as crucial hubs for some of the world's largest shipping lines.
As such, connecting these ports via a green corridor could result in meaningful emission reductions in maritime trade. And the proposed Shanghai-Longbeach green corridor perfectly aligns with this objective.
“This [green corridor] initiative will drive emissions reductions across the world’s largest ocean and lead to greener practices from supply chain participants along these vital trade routes. The new and innovative vessel technologies, increased availability of sustainable fuels and better practices created through this green corridor will also impact society’s transition to a cleaner future far beyond the areas served by our ports” - Mario Cordero, Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Long Beach
This Pole Star Global article aims to evaluate the viability of the Shanghai-Long Beach Corridor. The goal is to highlight key areas of focus to expedite the corridor's success. To dive into the heart of the matter, the Shanghai-Long Beach corridor analysis unfolds across the following areas:
For any green corridor to thrive, it needs the unwavering support of key stakeholders. This begs the question: Does the Shanghai-Long Beach corridor rally this support?
It appears that stakeholders are becoming more united in their dedication to decarbonisation. Yet, to truly understand the depth of this commitment, it's essential to evaluate each key carrier partner trading along this route.
Notable carrier partners include:
The following section investigates what each key carrier partner is doing today, to create a greener tomorrow.
In COSCO's 2021 sustainability report, intentional investment in low-carbon, zero-emission fuels is notably absent. Instead, the business:
“...actively explores high-quality use of fuel oil, monitors the use of fuel oil, implements fuel-saving measures, conducts shore power transformation, and sets scientific goals of reducing fuel oil to improve the effectiveness of fuel oil management and control”.
Yet, in December 2023, COSCO achieved a major milestone. The company presented its inaugural green shipping certificate at Volvo's Asia Pacific headquarters. This prestigious recognition hailed COSCO's pioneering use of the eco-friendly biofuel, Hi ECO. And Volvo proudly took the lead as the very first customer to sign up for COSCO's lower-emission services. But COSCO's commitment to sustainable shipping doesn't stop there. Initiatives to create a green fleet of vessels are outlined below.
Ocean Network Express (ONE) acknowledges its responsibility in a high-emission sector. As such, the company invests in cutting-edge green technology solutions for a reduced carbon footprint. For instance, ONE has embraced digitalisation to enhance operational efficiency. This forms the backbone of a dynamic five-step roadmap encompassing carbon management, green investments, alternative fuels, and ecosystem development.
Listed below are the investments ONE is making to create a green fleet of vessels.
The ambitious plans for the Shanghai-Longbeach green corridor have gained the backing of the influential C40 Cities. (The C40 is a global coalition of mayors dedicated to achieving net zero emissions.)
This powerful collaboration is important for the exchange of best practices and the collective pooling of resources.
“C40 is proud to support this first-of-its-kind green shipping corridor aimed at demonstrating that zero-carbon shipping at scale is feasible by 2030 and that less polluting ships and ports will also mean cleaner air, less noise and more jobs for local communities” - Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40
Pivotal port terminals along this corridor need to enhance their technological infrastructure to drive the widespread adoption of green shipping and the integration of low or zero-carbon fuels. Key partners to consider here are the Shanghai International Port (Group) CO Ltd, the Port of Los Angeles, and the Port of Long Beach.
China is boldly leading the charge in the global push for greener shipping. The country aims to construct over half of the world's green ships by 2025. Consequently, the Shanghai International Port is backed by strong governmental support to turn net zero into reality.
The Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) is spearheading the shift to net-zero fuels through innovative refuelling and supply systems. Initiatives include:
These initiatives have significantly reduced carbon emissions at container terminals. Specifically, emissions have been reduced from 440,000 tons of CO2e in 2020 to 326,000 tons of CO2e in 2022. Per TEU, emissions have decreased from 10.1 kg of CO2e to 6.9 kg of CO2e.
Furthermore, SIPG has made substantial investments in infrastructure to bolster LNG refuelling options. So far, a total of 57 refuelling operations, amounting to 317,000 cubic metres, were completed at the end of September 2023.
Expanding its green fuel initiatives, the Port of Shanghai is spearheading the development of methanol refuelling services for international navigation ships. Teaming up with ship carrier Maersk, SIPG is at the forefront of the methanol marine fuel project. As part of this collaboration, SIPG offers ship-to-ship bunkering and fuel tank storage services at the port.
Moreover, Shanghai has released medium and long-term plans to support hydrogen energy from 2022 to 2035. These plans include the creation of an international hydrogen energy demonstration port, coupled with the expansion of shoreline hydrogen refuelling facilities. The aim is to accelerate the commercial application of e-hydrogen fuels in the maritime industry.
Information on SIPG's participation in e-ammonia initiatives is scarce in the public domain.
The Port of Long Beach has partnered with the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES), drawing upon federal funding to catalyze the growth of the e-hydrogen market across California. Investments are directed towards cutting-edge hydrogen technologies. The focus is to establish dynamic local and regional hydrogen hubs. These hubs will be pivotal in advancing hydrogen-powered shipping endeavours.
The above showcases the Port of Long Beach's commitment to facilitating the energy needs of ships docked at its terminals. Yet, there's a noticeable absence of investment in e-ammonia and e-methanol fuels.
In terms of LNG, the Port of Long Beach is championing this sustainable shipping fuel. Earlier this year, the port marked a significant milestone by becoming the first West Coast seaport equipped to refuel ships with liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Another noteworthy initiative: Long Beach is embarking on an ambitious journey to transition to all zero-emissions cargo-handling equipment by 2030. Plus further plans are in place to operate a zero-emission drayage truck fleet by 2035. These bold initiatives underscore the port's steadfast commitment to reducing emissions throughout its entire value chain.
The Port of Los Angeles is following in the footsteps of its neighbouring Port of Long Beach with ambitious plans for the future. In a recent announcement in October 2023, the port revealed its participation in one of seven designated “Hydrogen Hubs”. This initiative comes with a significant financial boost of $1.2 billion from the U.S. Department of Energy. The aim is to spearhead the integration of hydrogen fuel for the movement of goods. This transformative investment also demands the deployment of hydrogen fuel cell cargo-handling equipment and mobile hydrogen fueling trucks or stations within the port's terminals. By embracing green hydrogen, Los Angeles solidifies its position as one of the largest bunkering hubs globally. This paves the way for more sustainable shipping practices on a global scale.
The infrastructure at Shanghai and Long Beach Ports stands ready to usher in a new era of hydrogen-powered shipping. Carriers operating on this route are encouraged to consider investing in hydrogen propulsion. In doing so, they'd follow the example set by CMA CGM and Maersk.
However, a noticeable gap emerges in the available infrastructure for other alternative fuels. This is evident as major shipping carrier Maersk highlights port infrastructure is yet to meet the refuelling needs of methanol-powered vessels. Despite collaborative efforts with SIPG, the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles currently lack the necessary infrastructure to support Maersk's methanol-powered fleet.
“The availability of methanol worldwide for the chemical industry is excellent, with bunkering for smaller vessels via land-based logistics available, i.e. trucks. Yet, bunkering for larger vessels is virtually non-existent.” - Sustainable Ships, The State of Methanol as a Marine Fuel in 2023
Plus, there's a significant lack of discourse on the refuelling infrastructure required to facilitate the adoption of e-ammonia. This is concerning, given the increasing number of shipping companies incorporating ammonia-powered vessels. It's evident that these ships currently lack support at critical port terminals along this corridor.
It seems ship carriers and port authorities haven't agreed on a single fuel pathway. This could slow progress if this isn't addressed.
Voyage optimisation ensures vessels navigate to their destination more efficiently. While this practice is crucial for reducing fuel consumption, note that this process alone will not yield net zero. Yet, used alongside alternative green fuels, voyage optimisation facilitates a smooth net zero transition by decreasing fuel consumption from the start.
And in the realm of voyage optimisation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping ship management as we know it.
AI serves as a cornerstone in refining route planning. For one, AI can boost fleet performance through intuitive dashboards and detailed reports. This offers readily accessible performance metrics, with key insights for emission reduction, and predictive analytics.
With these AI-driven solutions, ship carriers can attain goals such as:
As such, fostering partnerships with AI firms and key stakeholders along the
Shanghai-Longbeach corridor will be instrumental in advancing the net-zero objectives of this route. With this in mind, Pole Star Global's Podium5 will serve as a promising solution for the Shanghai-Longbeach corridor and beyond.
Podium5's cutting-edge platform provides weather routing and route optimisation services. Utilise Podium5's smart automation and expert advice and be empowered to make informed decisions to reduce fuel use.
Podium5 excels at enhancing shipping time and TCE (Time Charter Equivalent), all while minimising fuel consumption and emissions. The platform revolutionises planning processes and ensures precise Estimated Time of Arrivals (ETAs) for every journey.
This prefeasibility has assessed the Shanghai-Long Beach green corridor. From this assessment, the pivotal role of effective stakeholder communication is highlighted. With aligned targets and ongoing collaboration, the shipping industry can reach its 2050 net zero goals.
The success of a chosen green fuel pathway is critical to achieving this goal. Yet, the Shanghai-Long Beach corridor must first determine this fuel pathway. Ship carriers and ports must be aligned here, to provide essential and complementary infrastructure. Presently, carriers along this route are investing in a diverse range of alternative green fuels. Yet, the interconnected ports primarily endorse hydrogen and LNG.
Armed with this insight, we propose five recommendations to ensure the success of the Shanghai-Long Beach green corridor:
Collaboration across the entire value chain is paramount, involving ports, cargo owners, fuel producers, ship carriers, and vessel operations, all united in their commitment to achieving net-zero emissions. Policymakers can explore targeted changes to incentivise zero-emission shipping along this corridor. With stakeholders rallying around a credible plan, the Shanghai-Long Beach green corridor can significantly contribute to global progress toward achieving net-zero emissions.