Ulsan Port Authority (UPA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pacific Environment (PE), an international environmental organisation, to accelerate the transformation of shipping ports into eco-friendly ports. The MoU was signed during UPA’s ‘Shipping Port Decarbonisation Networking Reception’ on April 17 during Singapore Maritime Week.

 

The reception was attended by more than 32 organisations including major port officials, shipping lines, and climate environment non-profit organisations from all over the world including the US, Asia, the UK, and Australia, confirming the high level of interest in decarbonisation in the maritime sector and beyond.

 

Soon-yo Jeong, Vice President of Operations, UPA and Shannon Wright, Executive Director, PE attended the signing ceremony of the ‘Agreement to Accelerate the Transition to Green Shipping Ports’, one of the main events of the reception.

 

Green shipping routes

Through this agreement, the two organisations agreed to actively cooperate to support the design and development of decarbonisation policies for shipping ports in the Asia-Pacific region and the construction of green shipping routes. 

 

In addition, it will support policy analysis and development to solve climate issues, such as the use of clean energy in the maritime sector and the end of marine plastic pollution; promote eco-friendly fuel bunkering at Ulsan Port; develop safety standards and train port workers; and share best practices and jointly hold workshops in future cooperation areas.

 

In addition, Jeong presented Ulsan Port's strategy for building an eco-friendly energy logistics hub and sales of eco-friendly ship fuel supplies such as methanol and ammonia, which were well received by the attendees.

 

Carbon neutrality goal

“With the adoption of the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) carbon neutrality goal, decarbonisation of shipping ports has become a necessity rather than an option,” said Jeong. “Ulsan Port will further strengthen port infrastructure development, system improvement and mutual cooperation with stakeholders to promote the supply of carbon-free ship fuel such as green methanol and ammonia.”

 

In July 2023, Ulsan Port became the first in the world to supply green methanol to a container ship and in February 2024, it successfully supplied green methanol fuel to the world’s first commercially operated ultra-large (16,200 TEU) container ship. In addition, the port plans to build a clean hydrogen and ammonia terminal at Ulsan New Port by 2030 to store ammonia to produce and supply hydrogen.--TradeArabia News Service