Project

A. General Information

1. Title

Singapore-Los Angeles-Long Beach Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC)

2. Status of the project
Operating
3. Implementation period of the project/service:
From
Nov-2022
To
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4. Website
https://www.c40.org/what-we-do/scaling-up-climate-action/ports-and-shipping/gre…
5. Geographical coverage
Bilateral
Participating countries: Singapore, United States of America
6. Participating agencies/entities of the project/service:
a. Development stage
Lead agencies/entities
• Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)
• Port of Los Angeles (POLA)
• Port of Long Beach (POLB)
• C40 Cities (Facilitator)
Other participating agencies/entities
• American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
b. Operational stage
Lead agencies/entities (op)
• Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)
• Port of Los Angeles (POLA)
• Port of Long Beach (POLB)
• C40 Cities (Facilitator)
Other participating agencies/entities (op)
• Industry value-chain stakeholders (shipping lines, fuel suppliers)
7. Main stakeholders/beneficiaries of the project
Traders (big enterprises)
Transport
Other Government Agencies (OGAs)
Maritime shipping lines, cargo owners, fuel suppliers, local communities
8. Business process category of the project
Transport
Regulatory/official control
Maritime decarbonization, digital shipping solutions, alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure

B. Lessons Learned

9. Summary description of the project/service
Brief Summary

A trans-Pacific green and digital shipping corridor partnership between Singapore, Los Angeles and Long Beach ports to decarbonize maritime shipping and improve supply chain efficiency through digitalization.

a. Objective(s)

To accelerate decarbonization of the maritime industry, support transition to zero and near-zero emission fuels, develop digital technology solutions, and enable ships to achieve net-zero GHG emissions in support of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy targets.

b. Business need for the project (background)

Shipping accounts for 2-3% of global CO2 emissions and could rise to 17% by 2050 if unregulated. The trans-Pacific corridor is one of the world's busiest trade routes. Bilateral trade between Singapore and California reached $10.344 billion in 2022, making Singapore California's 12th-largest trading partner.

c. Business process covered*

Maritime shipping operations, alternative fuel bunkering, GHG emissions monitoring and verification, supply chain efficiency improvements, port operations coordination, digital shipping solutions deployment.

d. Overall architecture and functionalities*

Partnership-based governance structure with working groups focusing on: (1) zero and near-zero emissions fuels supply and adoption (green ammonia, green methanol), (2) energy efficiency solutions including digital tools for route optimization and remote monitoring, and (3) digital technologies for monitoring, reporting and verification of GHG emissions along the corridor.

e. Relevant document/figure
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10. Documents and data exchanged via the project

• GHG emissions data (monitoring, reporting and verification)
• Vessel traffic data (AIS data analysis)
• Energy demand and fuel consumption data
• Maritime trade flow information

11. Data models/databases, proprietary solutions, hybrid approaches

AIS (Automatic Identification System) data analysis for vessel traffic characterization. Study analyzed data from Q1 2021 to Q3 2023 covering 642 vessels and 1,606 voyages.

12. Main challenges faced during the project

• No single port or organization can tackle decarbonization alone
• Developing sufficient alternative fuel capacity and infrastructure
• Long-term projection of prices and availability of alternative fuels
• Safety challenges around new fuels (ammonia toxicity, methanol flammability)
• Constrained biogenic feedstock availability
• Need for wider collaboration with intermediary ports (majority of voyages are indirect)

13. Lessons learned from the project

• Green shipping is only achievable through collaboration because no single stakeholder can afford to move alone
• Wider collaboration with intermediary port countries (China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan) is needed given that majority of voyages include other port calls
• Both ammonia and methanol-based fuels will be crucial regardless of decarbonization trajectory
• Partnership governance mechanisms with clear roles and responsibilities are essential

14. Main benefit(s) of the project
Enhanced regulatory compliance*
Simplified process
14A. Elaborations/detailed description on benefits gained
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15. Technical/financial/capacity building/other assistance

C40 Cities provides facilitation support (coordinating, convening, communications). American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) conducted baselining study. Study commissioned by C40 Cities and the ports.

16. Future plan for expansion of the project

Onboarding new corridor participants from shipping and fuel supply value chains (initiated 2024). Working groups developing green and digital solutions for zero-emission fuel supply, energy efficiency, and GHG emissions monitoring. Trials of digital solutions and zero/near-zero fuel options. Target: Net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 aligned with IMO GHG Strategy.

17. Other information or relevant references on the project

Partnership Strategy unveiled at COP28 (December 2023). Part of Green Shipping Challenge launched at COP27 by United States and Norway. Supports U.S.-Singapore Climate Partnership and U.S.-Singapore Partnership for Growth and Innovation. All three ports are members of C40's Green Ports Forum.

18. Relevant document regarding the project
abs.cw40_report.pdf

C. Relevant Standards

19. Name(s) of any international, national legal instrument underpinning the project
2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships; International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations; Paris Agreement goals; MARPOL Annex VI (Energy Efficiency Design Index, Carbon Intensity Indicator); U.S.-Singapore Climate Partnership (2021); U.S.-Singapore Partnership for Growth and Innovation (2021)
20. Electronic message standard
20A. Electronic message standard supporting the project
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20B. Type of standard for electronic message applied for the project
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21. Technical communication standard
21A. Technical communication standard supporting the project
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21B. Type of technical communication standard applied for the project
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22. Security-related standards*
22A. Security-related standard supporting the project
--
22B. Type of security-related standard applied for the project
--
23. Other Technical Information
23A. Interface developed for data exchange with an internal system
Digital technologies for monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of GHG emissions - aligned with IMO's Data Collection System (DCS) and international emissions reporting requirements
23B. Other technical implementation information
AIS data analysis for vessel traffic characterization; Techno-economic optimization for future fuel mix projections through 2050; Digital tools for route optimization and remote monitoring under development

Last Update: 1 December 2025