Project

A. General Information

1. Title

Singapore-Rotterdam Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC)

2. Status of the project
Operating
3. Implementation period of the project/service:
From
Aug-2022
To
--
4. Website
https://www.mpa.gov.sg/maritime-singapore/innovation-and-r-d/call-for-proposals…
5. Geographical coverage
Bilateral
Participating countries: Netherlands, Singapore
6. Participating agencies/entities of the project/service:
a. Development stage
Lead agencies/entities
• Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)
• Port of Rotterdam Authority (PoR)
Other participating agencies/entities
• Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD)
• Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping
• bp, CMA CGM, Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA), Maersk, MSC, Ocean Network Express (ONE), PSA International, Shell, Google Cloud
b. Operational stage
Lead agencies/entities (op)
• Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)
• Port of Rotterdam Authority (PoR)
Other participating agencies/entities (op)
• Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, Maersk, MSC, Ocean Network Express (ONE), Shell, SEA-LNG
• A*STAR Centre for Maritime Digitalisation (C4MD)
• Nanyang Technological University Maritime Energy and Sustainable Development Centre of Excellence
• Centre for Maritime Studies, National University of Singapore
• Global Maritime Forum (GMF), IAPH (supporting partner)
7. Main stakeholders/beneficiaries of the project
Traders (big enterprises)
Traders (SMEs)
Customs
Other Government Agencies (OGAs)
Container shipping lines, Fuel suppliers, Port operators, Financial institutions, Research institutes
8. Business process category of the project
Transport
Regulatory/official control
Maritime decarbonisation, Port call optimization, Ship-to-shore data exchange, Sustainable fuel bunkering

B. Lessons Learned

9. Summary description of the project/service
Brief Summary

The Singapore-Rotterdam GDSC is a bilateral initiative connecting two of the world's largest bunkering ports to accelerate maritime decarbonization and digitalization on the 15,000 km Asia-Europe shipping lane through sustainable fuels deployment and digital solutions.

a. Objective(s)

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from large container vessels by 20-30% by 2030 compared to 2022; accelerate adoption of zero and near-zero emission fuels; implement global standards for efficient port calls, flow of goods, and paperless handling; enable just-in-time vessel arrivals through digital data exchange.

b. Business need for the project (background)

International shipping requires decarbonisation as an urgent climate action priority. Singapore and Rotterdam are vital links on Asian-European shipping lanes and among the largest bunkering ports globally. Alternative fuels face challenges in cost, availability, safety, and range restrictions, requiring coordinated value chain collaboration.

c. Business process covered*

• Port-to-port data exchange for vessel arrival and departure timestamps
• Ship-to-shore (S2S) data exchange for port clearance information
• Just-in-time (JIT) arrival planning and coordination
• Sustainable fuel bunkering operations (bio-methane, methanol, ammonia, hydrogen)
• Electronic bills of lading
• Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) of GHG emissions

d. Overall architecture and functionalities*

Digital trade lane with port-to-port data sharing of vessel arrival/departure timings according to IMO, IHO, and ISO global standards. Ship-to-shore data exchange infrastructure enables secure submission of port clearance information through APIs developed for harmonization across ports. Seven solution providers conduct data exchange and digital ship identity solution trials. Working groups established for bio-methane, methanol, ammonia, hydrogen fuels and commercial structures.

Technical specifications available at:
• Annex A: https://www.mpa.gov.sg/docs/mpalibraries/mpa-documents-files/ittd/gdsc-…
• Annex B: https://www.mpa.gov.sg/docs/mpalibraries/mpa-documents-files/ittd/gdsc-…
• Annex C (Digital ship identity): https://www.mpa.gov.sg/docs/mpalibraries/mpa-documents-files/ittd/gdsc-…

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

• Vessel arrival and departure timestamps (port-to-port)
• Port clearance information (ship-to-shore)
• Electronic bills of lading
• Digital ship identity authentication data
• Operational and administrative data for port call optimization
• GHG emissions data for MRV
• Proof of Sustainability certificates (ISCC-EU certification)

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

Standards-based solutions following IMO Compendium concepts, ISO 28005 technical specifications, and IHO standards. APIs developed for harmonization amongst ports, designed to be adopted by various port organizations.

12. Main challenges faced during the project

• Cost barriers associated with zero and near-zero emission fuels (green premium)
• Availability of sustainable fuels at scale
• Acceptability and affordability challenges for commercial bunkering
• Need for common safety frameworks and bunkering standards between ports
• Lower energy density of alternative fuels compared to fossil fuels causing range restrictions
• Building trust between partners for standardized data sharing

13. Lessons learned from the project

• Public-private collaboration across global value chains can be achieved through structured working groups
• Strong industry coalition provides greater certainty in demand and helps scale-up production of sustainable fuels
• Building trust between ports is essential before standardized data sharing can commence
• Integration of digital innovation in energy transition efforts accelerates the "twin transition"
• Results in standardization and data sharing for Port Call Optimization demonstrate early progress

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

• Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping provides modelling studies and technical expertise
• Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonization (GCMD) serves as action partner for route-based port-to-port pilots
• A*STAR Centre for Maritime Digitalization develops computational modelling, simulation and AI solutions
• Commercial Structures Working Group led by Port of Rotterdam and Global Maritime Forum develops financial instruments
• Partners exploring demand/supply aggregation mechanisms and public/private financial levers

16. Future plan for expansion of the project

• First sustainable vessels sailing on the route targeted for 2027
• Bio-LNG bunkering pilot planned for Singapore in 2025
• Further trials for bio-methane, methanol and ammonia bunkering
• Development and mobilization of financial instruments to address cost barriers
• Enhanced ship-to-shore data exchange solution testing in 2025
• Presentation of information paper at IMO FAL Committee on standards-based data exchange
• Invitation to other international ports and ship managers to participate in data exchange pilots

17. Other information or relevant references on the project

• Corridor supports IMO Resolution MEPC.323(74) and IMO Strategic Direction 5 for secure, universally acceptable data exchange
• Aligned with 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships
• Supports Maritime Singapore Decarbonization Blueprint 2050
• Supports IAPH Port Readiness Framework development
• First successful bunkering of mass-balanced liquefied bio-methane at Port of Rotterdam (October 2024) with CMA CGM TIVOLI
• Seven solution providers shortlisted: Bunkerchain, Diize, ELXA, Nautilus Log, Navtor, MagicPort, Wärtsilä

18. Relevant document regarding the project
--

C. Relevant Standards

19. Name(s) of any international, national legal instrument underpinning the project
• IMO Resolution MEPC.323(74)
• IMO FAL Convention (Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic)
• 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships
• EU Renewable Energy Directive III
• FuelEU Maritime regulations
• Maritime Singapore Decarbonization Blueprint 2050
20. Electronic message standard
20A. Electronic message standard supporting the project
XML:
- Other XML format: IMO Compendium (IMO Reference Model and IMO Data Set)
20B. Type of standard for electronic message applied for the project
International standard
Technical recommendations from international body(ies)
21. Technical communication standard
21A. Technical communication standard supporting the project
HTTP, APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) developed for port harmonization
21B. Type of technical communication standard applied for the project
International standard
22. Security-related standards*
22A. Security-related standard supporting the project
Digital signatures
Digital Ship Identity solutions for secure data exchange authentication
22B. Type of security-related standard applied for the project
International standard
Technical recommendations from international body(ies)
23. Other Technical Information
23A. Interface developed for data exchange with an internal system
• Port-to-port APIs for vessel arrival and departure data exchange
• Ship-to-shore APIs for port clearance information submission
• Standards aligned with IMO Compendium, ISO 28005, and IHO standards
• Sandbox environment provided for data exchange trials
23B. Other technical implementation information
• Seven solution providers selected for live trials: Bunkerchain, Diize, ELXA, Nautilus Log, Navtor, MagicPort, Wärtsilä
• Solutions include digital ship identity for enhanced security of data exchanges
• Insights presented at international fora including IMO FAL Committee
• Port of Tanger Med (Morocco) also invited to participate in data exchange initiative