by Lloyd's List
23 Oct 2024 (Lloyd's List) - COSCO Shipping Lines will initiate the deployment of green methanol-powered vessels along the green corridors connecting Shanghai and ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Hamburg from next year, with a target to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2030.
The vessel deployments align with the green corridors’ frameworks and are poised to progressively reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2030, Qin Jiangping, deputy general manager of CSL, said at the 2024 North Bund International Shipping Forum.
He did not specify the number of vessels or the frequency of their services for the first year of the trial, nor did he mention the source of the green methanol supply.
While most of China’s green methanol projects are currently in preparation or under construction, Qin stated “the demand will drive the supply”.
In 2022, the ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Shanghai inked the green shipping corridor agreement for the trans-Pacific trade route, involving carrier partners such as CMA CGM, Cosco, Maersk, and Ocean Network Express.
During this year's forum, Shanghai and Hamburg also signed a green shipping corridor MoU, with Cosco and Shanghai International Port Group as key partners.
To prepare for the deployment set to commence next year, Cosco has collaborated with Shanghai Maritime University for seafarer training programmes, according to Qin.
The training programme, initiated in July and tailored for Cosco’s transition to alternative fuels, will craft training outlines and standards that will serve as a point of reference for maritime authorities, according to a statement from Cosco Shipping Seafarer Management.
