In a significant move towards sustainable maritime operations, Singapore and Australia sign an MoU to establish the Green and Digital Shipping Corridor, enhancing decarbonization and digitalization in the maritime sector.
Singapore and Australia formalized their commitment to sustainable maritime development by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Singapore-Australia Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC). This landmark agreement was signed on 5 March 2024, in Melbourne, during the 9th Annual Leaders’ Meeting between the Prime Ministers of both nations.
The MoU, signed by Singapore’s Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance, Mr Chee Hong Tat, and Australia’s Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Catherine King MP, aims to accelerate maritime decarbonization and digitalization efforts. The collaboration will explore the development of zero or near-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emission fuel supply chains, including the construction of necessary infrastructure, standardization of protocols, and formulation and execution of training requirements for the maritime industry.
Additionally, the partnership will focus on facilitating digital information exchange to streamline port clearance and vessel traffic between the two countries. This initiative will also foster collaboration between the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Australian federal, state, and territory governments, as well as industry stakeholders.
Australia’s potential as a leading producer of green marine fuels, combined with Singapore’s status as the world’s busiest transshipment hub and a center for maritime research and innovation, positions the GDSC as a pivotal project for the future of global maritime operations. The collaboration is poised to catalyze the adoption of zero or near-zero GHG emission technologies and digital solutions, bolstering the resilience, efficiency, and sustainability of international maritime supply chains.
The GDSC initiative aligns with the broader Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement signed in October 2022, underscoring both nations’ commitment to developing scalable green and digital solutions for the maritime sector and upskilling the workforce to support the energy transition.
Further collaboration under the Australia-Singapore Initiative on Low Emissions Technologies for Maritime and Port Operations (ASLET) will complement the goals of the GDSC. This includes joint efforts in research and development, demonstration projects, and pilots, supported by MPA, Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), and Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).
Source – SG Press Centre
