Singapore, Japan work on green shipping corridor

The Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Singapore (MOT) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan (MLIT) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to establish a Singapore – Japan Green and Digital Shipping Corridor.

Signed by Chee Hong Tat, Acting Minister for Transport, and Saito Tetsuo, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, this MoC marks the first Green and Digital Shipping Corridor established between Singapore and Japan.

Japan is one of Singapore’s top 10 trading partners, and the trade volume between the two countries totalled S$65 billion ($48.8 billion) in 2022.

Under the collaboration, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will work together with six Japanese ports – namely, the Ports of Tokyo, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Osaka, Kobe, and the Port of Nagoya.

These ports represent key nodes for the major economic regions of Kanto, Kansai and Chubu. Together, they handled a combined cargo total of about 57 million tonnes in 2020, representing a significant proportion of total cargo handled in Japan.

With the establishment of the Green and Digital Shipping Corridor, MPA and the Japanese port partners aim to embark on pilot projects and trials for alternative marine fuels such as ammonia and hydrogen.

The two sides will also work together to develop the necessary bunkering infrastructure, standards, and training. They will also encourage development and adoption of technologies to decarbonise port infrastructure.

On the digitalisation front, Singapore and Japan will identify and implement digital solutions to streamline port clearance processes. Both sides will also exchange information and best practices on maritime cybersecurity risks as well as other aspects of maritime digitalisation.

Earlier this month, the MPA, the Port of Los Angeles, and the Port of Long Beach announced a Partnership Strategy for a green and digital maritime corridor across the Pacific Ocean.

In the same week, the MPA and the Tianjin Municipal Transportation Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Singapore – Tianjin Green and Digital Shipping Corridor.