Singapore, which views itself as a global hub for shipping,
is accelerating its role in the decarbonization of the global shipping industry
seeking to set an example for the industry. Noting the major disruptions to the
global supply chain over the past two years and the expectation that emerging
trends will reshape the operating environment, Singapore officials outlined a
series of initiatives at the opening of Singapore Maritime Week 2022.
“Looking ahead decarbonization is a major challenge for the
maritime industry. We must act,” said Singapore Minister of Transport S.
Iswaran. “As a global maritime hub, Singapore seeks to contribute to this
critical effort,” the minister continued outlining additional steps they plan
to undertake with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.
Singapore is already involved in several key studies on
decarbonization and launched its Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonization.
Minister Iswaran highlighted that Singapore is contributing as a global
maritime hub while announcing that Singapore will join the Clydebank
Declaration for Green Shipping Corridors.
The city-state will become the 23rd signatory state to the
initiative launched at COP26 in Scotland last fall. One of the aims of the
Clydebank Declaration is to establish green shipping corridors between ports by
deploying zero-emission vessel technologies on voyages, or alternative fuel and
charging infrastructure in ports. Singapore expects to participate in a
half-dozen green corridors in its position as a global hub between Asia,
Europe, North America, and Australia.
“The maritime sector plays a critical role in international
trade and the global economy,” said the minister during his opening remarks to
the conference. “To ensure its reliability, resilience, and readiness for the
future, the maritime industry must transform, and embody the essential elements
of continuous innovation, boundaryless collaboration, and strong talent
development. This endeavor requires partnership across nations and between the
public and private sectors.”
To meet the goals and plan for the future, Minister Iswaran
also announced the establishment of a Maritime International Advisory Panel led
jointly by the Ministry of Transport and MPA. The goal will be to seek global
perspectives on emerging trends and critical developments that will shape the
maritime industry. The IAP will be comprised of 12 cross-sector global business
leaders.
Singapore’s announcement that it will participate in the
formation of green corridors follows the recent news that five Northern
European port authorities are joining in partnership with the Mærsk Mc-Kinney
Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping to lay the foundations for a green
corridor serving Northern Europe and the Baltic. They hoped that their initiatives
would lead to the early commercialization of green technologies and would
provide a model for rolling out green corridors in other locations.
Shanghai and Los Angeles announced the first plan for a
green corridor. Working with shipping majors Maersk, CMA CGM, and COSCO
Shipping Lines, they committed to releasing a plan for the effort by the end of
this year. They said they were committed to beginning the transition to
zero-carbon fueled ships by 2030 for commercial shipping on one of the busiest
ocean shipping routes in the world.