On the margins of COP28 in Dubai, the Minister of Transport, Pablo Rodriguez announced that Canada has signed the Memorandum of Understanding to pursue the establishment of a green shipping corridor between Canada’s West Coast and ports in the United Arab Emirates, Korea and Japan.
The West Green Shipping Corridor will feature:
- A unique geographical location—it is the shortest route from North America to Asia;
- State-of-the-art low carbon technologies: Carbon Neutral Transload Centre and net-zero container;
- State-of-the-art sprinter ships (ships that are faster, smaller and designed to only make round trips between two ports) using the most innovative zero emission technologies (e.g., clean fuels, new hull designs, and advanced logistics and efficiencies); and,
- The distribution, use, and export of clean fuels like ammonia, hydrogen, or methanol—all produced in Canada.
This Memorandum of Understanding showcases the power of partnerships across the marine sector. Partners include Indigenous groups, governments, shippers, ship builders, ports and terminal operators, clean fuel producers and clean tech companies. All parties have agreed to work together to develop this corridor, which is the shortest route between North America and Asia. This partnership takes advantage of world-leading, clean technologies already in use or planned in every port.
For Canada, this Memorandum of Understanding builds on the significant action taken over the past few years. The Canadian Green Shipping Corridors Framework, released last year, helps guide Canadian organizations and industry in creating green shipping corridors. The Green Shipping Corridor Program, launched on December 1, 2023, will invest in the development of these corridors —particularly on Canada’s East and West coasts, the Great Lakes, and the St. Lawrence Seaway.
(Port of Vancouver photo)
