Port of Long Beach, Shenzhen partner to enhance maritime decarbonisation
The Port of Long Beach, and Shenzhen Port Group, along with multiple partners have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together to decarbonise ocean trade.
The other establishments involved in the MoU are Hutchison Ports YANTIAN (YANTIAN), South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD), and the North American Representative Office of Shenzhen.
These representatives from each party signed the MoU on 22 September in Shenzhen, China.
According to the port, the memorandum offers a framework for coordinating technical exchanges and programs, initiating collaborative efforts to deploy clean technologies, promoting sustainable infrastructure development in the marine sector, and promoting economic growth with a focus on sustainability and public health.
Potential collaborations could include maritime technology demonstration projects, programs to attract cleaner oceangoing vessels – because vessels are a major source of emissions associated with international trade – and information exchanges held via virtual meetings and regional workshops.
Port of Long Beach CEO, Mario Cordero, said: “One of the most important parts of strategic partnerships like this is the ability to target shipborne emissions, a source we have little power to regulate as a local port authority.
“We see the potential for this agreement to make fleets cleaner sooner. The technologies and practices we develop through this agreement also have the potential to have a positive impact on the environment and economies far beyond our two ports and cities.”
South Coast AQMD Executive Officer, Wayne Nastri, stated: “Working together with our port partners, we have seen firsthand how we can accelerate the reduction of harmful emissions in nearby communities. The South Coast AQMD is excited to work with all our partners in this agreement to continue developing innovative strategies to reduce emissions and improve public health.”
Shenzhen Port Group Chairman, Zhaoyang Hu, said: “Building on the signing of this memorandum, we will drive initiatives in new fuel bunkering technologies, such as green methanol, and the development of zero-carbon RoRo terminals.
“By enhancing communication and information sharing between the two ports, we aim to improve cargo transportation efficiency and establish more advanced green shipping corridors. These efforts will play a key role in achieving global Dual-Carbon Goal and fostering deeper economic and trade cooperation between China and the US.”
The memorandum will also reportedly look into the possibility of a Sister Ports Agreement between the Port of Long Beach, which handled 8 million TEU in 2023, and YANTIAN, one of the world’s largest container terminals managed by a single operator.
Recently, the Port of Long Beach released a final study examining a proposal by Tesoro Refining and Marketing Co. LLC to demolish the Tesoro Calciner facility.
