Ports of Rotterdam & Singapore partner for zero carbon shipping

Two of the world's largest bunkering ports - Rotterdam and Singapore - have agreed to work together to reduce emissions in the maritime sector.

The agreement aims to establish the world's longest green, digital corridor between the two and looks to bring together stakeholders from across the supply chain to enable the first sustainable vessels to sail the route by 2027.

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Singapore and Rotterdam are vital links on the Asian-European shipping lanes. At present, international shipping mostly uses marine gas oil (MGO) and low-sulphur fuel oil, but sustainable alternatives such as biofuels, including biogases, are becoming increasingly viable.

Other alternatives such as synthetic methane, hydrogen, and hydrogen-based fuels including ammonia and methanol are in various stages of R&D for future trials and deployment.

Each of these alternative fuels comes with its own challenges, be it relating to availability, cost, safety, or range restrictions. The agreement signed by the two port authorities looks to take on these challenges by bringing together a broad coalition of shipping companies, fuel suppliers and other companies to work collectively on possible solutions.

As well as alternative shipping fuels, the agreement also looks to optimise maritime efficiency, safety and the transparent flow of goods by creating a digital trade lane where relevant data, electronic documentation and standards are shared. Such a trade lane will enable smoother movement of vessels and their cargo, and optimise just-in-time arrivals from port to port.

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The port authorities will work with the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero-Carbon Shipping, as well as other industry partners including bp and Shell, and shipping companies CMA CGM, Digital Container Shipping Association, Maersk, and MSC. 

"Decarbonising shipping is an urgent climate action priority, which requires the collective efforts of the entire maritime sector. As a trusted global maritime hub, Singapore contributes actively to IMO’s efforts to make international shipping more sustainable, and global supply chains more resilient," said S Iswaran, Singapore's Minister for Transport and Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations.

"This MoU with the Port of Rotterdam demonstrates how like-minded partners can work together to complement the efforts of the IMO. It will serve as a valuable platform to pilot ideas that can be scaled up for more sustainable international shipping."

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Allard Castelein, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, said: "Shipping is among the most important industries to decarbonise, owing to its large international reach and volume, which continues to grow.

"By bringing together parties across the supply chain along one of the world’s biggest trade lanes, we can enable carriers to switch to zero-carbon fuels and speed up the transition to more sustainable shipping."

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