France, China forge first green shipping corridor
HAROPA PORT, Zhejiang Provincial Seaport Group, MSC and partners have signed a strategic agreement to launch the first green shipping corridor between France and China.
Other partners include Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV), China Waterborne Transport Research Institute and Terminal Investment Limited (TiL).
This initiative aligns with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2023 strategy for achieving carbon neutrality by or around 2050, the Paris Agreement (COP21), the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Franco-Chinese initiative for a green and low-carbon maritime industry, as well as the Clydebank Declaration, of which France is a signatory.
China is HAROPA PORT’s leading trading partner, accounting for 30 per cent of its container traffic. Ningbo Zhoushan Port, the world’s largest port by total cargo tonnage and the third largest in terms of container throughput, represents 22 per cent of this volume. Given the high level of trade between the two ports, this green corridor will contribute significantly to the decarbonisation of maritime transport.
This strategic agreement is a tangible example of how ports, shipping lines and terminal operators are working together to reduce the carbon footprint of maritime transport as much as possible. The agreement notably provides opportunities for:
The deployment of shore-side electricity connections for vessels
The progressive electrification of terminals and port equipment using renewable or low-carbon energy sources
The establishment of alternative fuel supply chains (such as LNG, bio-LNG, green ammonia and green hydrogen)
The development of low-carbon hinterland connections, particularly via inland waterway and rail transport
The exploration of on-board CCUS (carbon capture, utilisation and storage) pilot projects
The strategic agreement serves as an operational framework for mobilising all stakeholders across the maritime value chain.
“As France’s leading port for international trade and a strategic gateway for Asia–Europe flows, HAROPA PORT carries a key responsibility in driving the maritime energy transition,” said Benoît Rochet, Chief Executive Officer of HAROPA PORT.
“With this corridor, we are laying the foundations for a decarbonised sea route between China and France. Our ambition is to make the Seine Axis a benchmark hub for the bunkering and operation of zero-emission vessels, in close cooperation with our Asian and European partners.”
“As a major large-scale, comprehensive hub port in China, Ningbo Zhoushan Port will actively participate in the cooperative practices of green shipping corridors,” said Tao Chengbo, Chairman of Zhejiang Provincial Seaport Group and Ningbo Zhoushan Port Group.
“We are committed to continuously enhancing our green transformation and service standards, working hand in hand with partners across the value chain to promote the sustainable development of ports and shipping.”
Late last year, HAROPA PORT secured €6 million in AFIF funding, making it the only organisation chosen in the second call to electrify both maritime and inland port infrastructure.
