Shenzhen, Long Beach to collaborate on decarbonizing ocean trade, new green shipping corridors

The Port of Long Beach, Shenzhen Port Group, Hutchison Ports YANTIAN, South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) and the North American Representative Office of Shenzhen have signed a memorandum of cooperation to collaborate on decarbonizing ocean trade and inspire other similar efforts to build a green maritime economy around the Pacific Rim.

Representatives for the parties signed the memorandum in Shenzhen, China, on September 22, 2024.

As explained, the document establishes a framework to support the coordination of technical exchanges and programs, initiate shared efforts to deploy clean technologies, promote sustainable infrastructure development within the maritime industry and promote economic development prioritizing sustainability and public health.

Potential collaborations may include maritime technology demonstration projects, programs to attract cleaner oceangoing vessels – because vessels are a key contributor to emissions associated with international trade – and information exchanges.

“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,” Mario Cordero, Port of Long Beach CEO, commented.

“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.”

“The Port of Long Beach is honored and proud to be part of a collective effort to operate more sustainably and develop the green economy, all while protecting public health…This type of international collaboration is critical to our shared goal of decarbonizing shipping in the decades ahead,” Bonnie Lowenthal, Long Beach Harbor Commission President, pointed out.

“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 ro-ro terminals,” Zhaoyang Hu, Shenzhen Port Group Chairman, commented.

“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 U.S.”

“The shipping industry is a cornerstone of global trade and economy. We recognize the importance of establishing partnerships and aligning our efforts towards common goals,” Lawrence Shum, YANTIAN Managing Director, noted.

“Through this memorandum, we commit to collaborating on technical exchanges, knowledge sharing and project cooperation, positioning ourselves as ‘pioneers’ in the green ocean economy of the Pacific Rim.”

The memorandum will also explore the possibility of a sister ports agreement between the Port of Long Beach, the second-busiest seaport in the United States, which handled 8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2023, and YANTIAN, which is one of the world’s largest container terminals run by a single operator.

In the past, the Port of Shenzhen signed sister port agreements with the Swedish Port of Gothenburg and the Scottish Port of Cork, among others.

The Port of Long Beach is known worldwide for its Green Port Policy, a 2005 commitment to environmental sustainability that has led to reductions in emissions and improvements in water quality and biodiversity of local waters.

Together with the neighboring Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Long Beach created in 2006 the Clean Air Action Plan — a comprehensive strategy to tackle every source of port-related air pollution.

Back in 2022, the Port of Long Beach signed on to the Shanghai-Los Angeles green shipping corridor, a partnership of C40 Cities, ports, shipping companies and cargo owners convened to create a zero-emissions transpacific trade route.

What is more, the Port of Long Beach, together with the Port of Los Angeles and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) unveiled last December a partnership strategy for a green and digital shipping corridor (GDSC) across the Pacific Ocean.