18 December 2023 (Lloyd's List) - JAPAN and Singapore agreed to set up a green and digital shipping corridor.

This will help both countries “develop standards and best practices supporting the decarbonisation, digitalisation and growth of the maritime industry,” the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said in a release.

The MPA will work with six Japanese ports on pilot projects and trials for alternative fuels such as ammonia and hydrogen, as well as on bunkering infrastructure, standards and training.

The ports include the port of Tokyo, port of Yokohama and port of Kawasaki supporting the Kanto Region; the port of Osaka and the port of Kobe supporting the Kansai region; and the port of Nagoya supporting the Chubu region. Together, these ports handled about 57m tonnes of cargo in 2020, a substantial share of Japan’s total.

On the digital side, Singapore and Japan will identify and apply digital solutions to streamline port clearance processes. Both sides will also exchange information and best practices on maritime cybersecurity.

Trade volume between Singapore and Japan countries totalled SGD $65bn ($48.8bn) in 2022, MPA said.