Singapore-Rotterdam Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC) commences the implementation phase and aims to enhance operational efficiencies and lower barriers for first movers to ensure availability, acceptability and affordability of alternative fuels. The GDSC partners will convene for the inaugural GDSC Symposium as part of Singapore Maritime Week 2024.
The Singapore-Rotterdam GDSC was established by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Port of Rotterdam Authority (PoR) in August 2022 to accelerate transformation efforts for maritime decarbonization and digitalization.
Singapore and Rotterdam are among the largest bunkering ports in the world, making them vital links on the Asian-European shipping lanes and key players to help catalyze global efforts for international shipping to be more efficient, resilient and sustainable.
To-date, the GDSC initiative has brought together 26 global value-chain partners across shipping lines, fuel suppliers, port authorities and operator, industry coalitions, banks, leading institutes of higher learning and knowledge partners.
Hapag-Lloyd, the world’s fifth largest liner shipping company operating more than 260 ocean going vessels, is the latest addition to the corridor. Hapag-Lloyd joins four other global container shipping lines which have committed to deploying large container vessels running on zero-and near-zero emission fuels along the high-volume Asia-Europe trade lane.
Encouraging uptake of zero and near-zero emission fuels
The GDSC partners will be implementing several first-mover pilot projects and testing out commercial structures to accelerate the uptake of zero and near-zero emission fuels, such as synthetic and bio-variants of methanol, ammonia, methane, and hydrogen. This implementation follows earlier modelling studies undertaken by the Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Centre for Zero Carbon-Shipping and the Centre for Maritime Studies of the National University of Singapore to explore multiple alternative fuels pathways and their viability as sustainable marine fuel.
Adoption of digital solutions
On the digital front, Singapore and Rotterdam have successfully trialed the exchange of port-to-port data and are now able to exchange vessel arrival and departure times to facilitate port planning and for ships to optimize their port call voyage between Singapore and Rotterdam.
Following this successful trial, Singapore and Rotterdam have jointly issued a call-for-proposal (CFP) for standards-based solutions that enable efficient and secure data exchange between ship and shore. This exchange will be in accordance with global standards from the IMO, International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), and International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
As part of the CFP process, more than 30 representatives from global shipping lines and technology providers have signed up for the industry engagement session to explore the role of digital ship identity solutions, refine data exchange process and align on value quantification. The closing date for submissions is on 31 May 2024.
Together with industry partners, both ports are facilitating a proof of concept to conduct monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of GHG emissions along the route. The proof of concept, which aims to be enhanced through future open calls, would be based on global industry standards for emissions reporting and aligned with international and regional emissions reporting requirements such as those under the EU’s MRV regime and the IMO’s Data Collection System (DCS).
Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive of MPA said: “The progress made since the establishment of the Singapore-Rotterdam Green and Digital Shipping Corridor in August 2022 demonstrates that public-private collaboration across global value chains can be achieved. This collaboration will allow Singapore and Rotterdam to pilot innovative solutions on one of the world’s busiest shipping routes and accelerate the decarbonization and digitalization of the shipping industry.”
Boudewijn Siemons, Chief Executive Officer of POR said: “The Singapore-Rotterdam Corridor is a very valuable collaboration in accelerating the twin transition: the integration of digital innovation in energy transition efforts. Not only are we seeing the first results in standardization and data sharing for Port Call Optimization but also the first steps in moving towards operationalization of zero and low carbon fuels on this trade lane.”
Photo credit: iStock/Tryaging
