Singapore And Rotterdam Strengthen Green And Digital Shipping Corridor

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Port of Rotterdam have signed a Cooperation Agreement to further advance the Rotterdam-Singapore Green and Digital Shipping Corridor. This initiative, launched in 2022, has been instrumental in promoting maritime decarbonisation and digitalisation.

Key Developments and Objectives

• 28 partners across the container shipping value chain are working together to deploy sustainable fuels and implement digital solutions for efficient port operations.

• The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of large container vessels by 20-30% by 2030.

• The corridor aims to establish global standards to facilitate efficient port calls, seamless cargo flow, and paperless transactions.

Encouraging Low- and Zero-Emission Fuels

• The partnership is accelerating the adoption of sustainable fuels, such as bio- and e-variants of ammonia, methanol, and methane.

• First-mover pilot projects include:

  • The first successful bunkering of mass-balanced liquefied bio-methane at the Port of Rotterdam.

  • A similar trial planned in Singapore in 2025.

  • A Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Assessment (LCA) of green ammonia as a marine fuel.

• Future plans include:

  • Conducting more studies and trials for bio-methane, methanol, and ammonia.

  • Developing financial instruments to address cost barriers in using low-emission fuels.

Enhancing Port Efficiency Through Digitalisation

• The ports successfully trialled the exchange of port-to-port data, enabling accurate vessel arrival and departure timestamps.

• Ship-to-shore data exchange infrastructure has been established to streamline port clearance processes and minimise errors through automated data filling.

• The first phase of global standards and digital solutions trials began in March 2025, with an enhanced solution scheduled for the second half of 2025.

Collaboration and Future Outlook

• Singapore Maritime Week serves as a platform for advancing discussions and achieving the corridor’s goals.

• Mr Teo Eng Dih, CEO of MPA, emphasized the importance of public-private collaboration in turning decarbonisation and digitalisation ideas into reality.

• Mr Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam, highlighted the corridor’s success in reducing shipping emissions, improving trade efficiency, and setting industry standards while acknowledging the need for further progress.

This agreement marks a significant step in the maritime industry’s journey towards a greener and more digital future.