MPA Singapore: Trans-Pacific Ports Double Down on Green Fuel: Methanol Trials Set to Transform 2026 Shipping

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Singapore, Los Angeles, and Long Beach Ports have renewed their Green and Digital Shipping Corridor Memorandum of Understanding for another three years, reinforcing a joint push to decarbonise one of the world’s busiest container trade lanes. First launched in 2023, the corridor now enters a phase of practical implementation with a sharper focus on alternative fuels and digitalisation.

Since its inception, the corridor has delivered measurable milestones. A baseline study completed in 2024 provided a roadmap for emission reduction. Multiple industry partners have joined to explore pilot trials, while workstreams now advance projects in alternative fuels, digital connectivity, and energy efficiency. The corridor is not just aspirational; it is becoming a living laboratory for sustainable maritime operations.

MPA led methanol bunkering trials in 2023 and awarded three supply licenses. POLA and POLB have commissioned a Clean Fuels Study and are preparing methanol trials in 2026. These steps indicate a coordinated effort to introduce zero- and low-emission fuels along the Trans-Pacific route, which currently sees hundreds of millions of tons of cargo annually.

“Transitioning from intent to implementation gives industry greater confidence to plan investments and diversify energy options,” said Ang Wee Keong, Chief Executive of MPA.

The ports are also testing port-to-port data exchange and collaborating with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines on pilot projects, highlighting how technology is paired with fuel innovation to reduce lifecycle emissions.

Gene Seroka, Executive Director of POLA, emphasized that deploying zero-carbon container ships by 2030 is a primary goal. Dr. Noel Hacegaba, CEO of POLB, framed the corridor as a “green print” for decarbonising cargo vessels—the single largest source of emissions in seaports. Both leaders underscore that climate action in maritime shipping is intertwined with geopolitics, trade efficiency, and technological innovation.

C40 Cities continues to facilitate coordination and communications among partners, ensuring that efforts on sustainability, cybersecurity, and interoperability remain aligned. The renewed MOU accelerates pilot demonstrations and infrastructure planning while setting the stage for measurable emissions reductions along a route critical to global commerce.

^{Source:Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore}