Ports of Oakland and Yokohama to create a green shipping corridor

The Port of Oakland, USA, and the Port of Yokohama, Japan have signed the Green Shipping Corridor Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), paving the way to share best practices on the implementation of green initiatives to transform operations across the supply chain. 

The signing was part of the Port Decarbonization & Green Shipping Corridor Symposium, which hosted discussions on initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas footprints globally and locally. California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism convened the Symposium in Los Angeles, CA. 

Japan is a major U.S. trade partner and a top destination for U.S. exports from Oakland. This cargo business accounts for 16% of all exports leaving from the Oakland Seaport. 

“Japan has demonstrated its commitment to decarbonization initiatives and partnerships to achieve these ambitious goals,” said Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan.

“Agreements like this MOU are an essential part of establishing the explicit intent to reduce emissions and implementation of worthy projects that can get the job done. We look forward to working collaboratively with the Port of Yokohama and hope that our ports’ efforts inspire others around the world to do the same.”

“Today we are focused on upgrading, modernizing and enhancing our electrical infrastructure and developing a wide range of decarbonization pathways and technologies with our maritime tenants, customers, and supply chain partners. Agreements like this will help drive these critical initiatives forward and create positive change at the local and international levels,” Port of Oakland Chief Operations Officer Kristi McKenney, who is leading the port’s zero-emissions initiatives, said.

The Ports of Oakland and Yokohama plan to share their best practices on a variety of projects that reduce carbon emissions including developing low carbon and zero-emissions cargo handling equipment; trucks and other transportation equipment; exploring alternatives to petroleum-based fuel sources; and leveraging their leadership positions to advocate for green ports and the creation of a green shipping corridor between these two trade gateways.  

Wan added that there is a wide range of strategies that are being deployed and studied in Oakland to reduce harmful emissions locally:  

• Introduction of hybrid technologies in the near-term to reduce diesel emissions for heavy-duty equipment by 95 percent; 
• Battery electric and hydrogen-powered trucks, cargo handling equipment and tugs; and
• Renewable, locally generated power, microgrids and battery-electric storage system

The creation of a green shipping corridor forms part of the port’s goal to reach zero emissions operations by 2040.