Haropa Port, Zhejiang Provincial Seaport Group, Bureau Veritas, China Waterborne Transport Research Institute, MSC and TiL joined forces to develop the first green shipping corridor between China and France’s Haropa Port
The agreement, signed, recently in Shanghai, launched the creation of the first green shipping corridor between France and China.
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’s leading trading partner, accounting for 30% 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% of this volume.
The strategic 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 supply chains for alternative fuels such as LNG, bio-LNG, green ammonia, and green hydrogen,
“Haropa Port carries a key responsibility in driving the maritime energy transition. 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,” said Benoît Rochet, CEO of Haropa Port.
“As a major large-scale, comprehensive hub port in China, the Ningbo Zhoushan Port will actively participate in the cooperative practices of green shipping corridors. 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,” said Tao Chengbo, Chairman of Zhejiang Provincial Seaport Group and Ningbo Zhoushan Port Group.
“Bureau Veritas will provide technical support for corridor development and emissions reduction. It will work with stakeholders to advance the corridor from initiative to implementation through certification and innovative solutions.” Matthieu de Tugny, Executive Vice President, Industrials and Commodities of Bureau Veritas.
