The Port of Long Beach, Shenzhen Port Group, Hutchison Ports YANTIAN, South Coast Air Quality Management District and the North American Representative Office of Shenzhen have signed a memorandum of cooperation to collaborate on decarbonizing ocean trade and inspire other similar efforts to build a green maritime economy around the Pacific Rim.

Representatives for the parties signed the memorandum in Shenzhen, China, on Sept. 22. It establishes a framework to support coordination of technical exchanges and programs, initiate shared efforts to deploy clean technologies, promote sustainable infrastructure development within the maritime industry and promote economic development prioritizing sustainability and public health.

Potential collaborations may include maritime technology demonstration projects, programs to attract cleaner oceangoing vessels – because vessels are a key contributor to emissions associated with international trade – and information exchanges conducted through virtual meetings and regional workshops.

“One of the most important parts of strategic partnerships like this is the ability to target shipborne emissions, a source we have little power to regulate as a local port authority,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “We see the potential for this agreement to make fleets cleaner sooner. The technologies and practices we develop through this agreement also have the potential to have a positive impact on the environment and economies far beyond our two ports and cities.”

“The Port of Long Beach is honored and proud to be part of a collective effort to operate more sustainably and develop the green economy, all while protecting public health,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bonnie Lowenthal. “This type of international collaboration is critical to our shared goal of decarbonizing shipping in the decades ahead.”

“Working together with our port partners, we have seen firsthand how we can accelerate the reduction of harmful emissions in nearby communities,” said South Coast AQMD Executive Officer Wayne Nastri. “The South Coast AQMD is excited to work with all our partners in this agreement to continue developing innovative strategies to reduce emissions and improve public health.”

“Building on the signing of this memorandum, we will drive initiatives in new fuel bunkering technologies, such as green methanol, and the development of zero-carbon ro-ro terminals,” said Shenzhen Port Group Chairman Zhaoyang Hu. “By enhancing communication and information sharing between the two ports, we aim to improve cargo transportation efficiency and establish more advanced green shipping corridors. These efforts will play a key role in achieving global Dual-Carbon Goal and fostering deeper economic and trade cooperation between China and the U.S.”

“The shipping industry is a cornerstone of global trade and economy. We recognize the importance of establishing partnerships and aligning our efforts towards common goals,” said YANTIAN Managing Director Lawrence Shum. “Through this memorandum, we commit to collaborating on technical exchanges, knowledge sharing and project cooperation, positioning ourselves as ‘pioneers’ in the green ocean economy of the Pacific Rim.”

The memorandum signed Sunday will also explore the possibility of a Sister Ports Agreement between the Port of Long Beach, the second-busiest seaport in the United States, which handled 8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2023, and YANTIAN, which is one of the world’s largest container terminals run by a single operator.

The Port of Long Beach is known worldwide for its Green Port Policy, a landmark 2005 commitment to environmental sustainability that has led to dramatic reductions in emissions and improvements in water quality and biodiversity of local waters. Together with the neighboring Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Long Beach created in 2006 the Clean Air Action Plan — a sweeping, innovative and comprehensive strategy to tackle every source of port-related air pollution.