Shanghai works with foreign ports to establish greener shipping routes
Xinhua Silk Road
Shanghai’s efforts to establish additional green shipping corridors with international partners garnered significant attention from global delegates at the opening of the 2025 North Bund Forum this month [October 19, 2025].
North Bund Forum Shanghai October 19, 2025
At present, the green shipping corridors, which have been constructed in collaboration with numerous European and American ports, are in the process of establishing a testing field for the global shipping industry’s transformation through the intensive application of emission-reduction technologies and multi-party participation.
For example, Shanghai Port is collaborating with the ports of Barcelona in Spain and Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium to establish a green ro-ro shipping corridor. Similar green shipping corridors are being constructed by other Chinese ports in collaboration with German and French ports.
Sustainable development
After a year of operation, the “Shanghai-Hamburg green shipping corridor” was unveiled in 2024 and has made significant strides in sustainable development.
Shanghai port’s container berths are now capable of refuelling LNG and green methanol in addition to the standard shore power service. Hamburg port’s berths, which are equipped with a 100% green shore power service, are preparing to implement methanol injection service this year. These ports are prepared to collaborate on an emission-reduction model for Eurasian shipping routes.
COSCO Shipping Lines has proactively implemented low-carbon shipping by operating two regular shipping lines between the ports of Shanghai and Hamburg that satisfy the IMO carbon intensity indicator.
In response to the prevalent low-carbon development philosophy, an increasing number of upstream and downstream institutions, such as Det Norske Veritas, China Classification Society, and Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre, Asia, have participated in the development of the green shipping corridor.
The corridor was preceded by another initiative that began in 2022 and connected Shanghai port to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. In the past year, this initiative has made significant strides, such as the deployment of ships with full life-cycle low-carbon emissions, the expansion of clean marine fuel injection services, and the attainment of 100% shore power coverage.
International Cooperation unveiled
An international green shipping corridor cooperation initiative was unveiled at the forum. The initiative aims to promote the development of low-carbon vessels, construct zero-carbon ports, enhance the supply of green fuel, and share best practices in order to collaboratively establish “transoceanic zero-carbon bridges.”
A joint green shipping corridor initiative was also issued by the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission and the operator of Melbourne port. This initiative is dedicated to the implementation of eco-friendly practices, including the use of clean technology and renewable resources, to minimise the ecological impact of shipping activities and promote decarbonisation.
Picture Source: Xinhua Silk Road