The Busan Port Authority (BPA), Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), Port of Tacoma (PoT), Port of Seattle (PoS), and Ulsan Port Authority (UPA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation.
The cooperation aims to enhance green shipping corridors, decarbonise maritime shipping, and accelerate adoption of clean marine fuels.
Fern Uennatornwaranggoon, Climate Campaign Ports Director at Pacific Environment, said: “Electrifying ports and moving ships to zero emissions reduces health risks for portside communities and workers. We applaud the ports’ action to protect communities from toxic pollution and climate impacts.”
The NWSA and Korean partners have worked for three years on the US-Korea Green Shipping Corridors Project, studying the feasibility of transitioning to zero- or net-zero (ZNZ) marine fuels along trade lanes connecting NWSA ports with Ulsan and Busan.
The project examines ZNZ fuel demand, supply chains, storage and bunkering capacity, safety and regulatory frameworks, and total cost of ownership compared with conventional fuels.
Hyunju Kang, Asia Climate Campaign Director, stated: “Republic of Korea has set ambitious targets and is committed to green shipping goals. We are proud to partner with Korea to advance maritime decarbonisation and clean up the shipping industry.”
Under the MoU, the ports will collaborate on decarbonisation and in-port emissions reduction, support green shipping corridors, standardise low-carbon fuel use and bunkering , share best practices, build industry capacity, and explore digitisation, data sharing, business development, and marketing cooperation.
Recently, the Minot Intermodal Facility in North Dakota celebrated its fifth anniversary, highlighting a successful rail-to-port partnership that strengthened US agricultural export flows to international markets via NWSA gateway.