Minister of Transport announces a Memorandum of Understanding for West Green Shipping Corridor

OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 6, 2023 /CNW/ - Canadians across the country rely on marine shipping to deliver products in an affordable, safe, and efficient way. By building shipping corridors with cleaner, more sustainable practices, we not only help grow a strong economy and get people the goods they need, we help keep our water and air clean.

Today, on the margins of COP28, the Minister of Transport, Pablo Rodriguez announced that Canada has signed the Memorandum of Understanding to pursue the establishment of a green shipping corridor between Canada's West Coast and ports in the United Arab Emirates, Korea and Japan.

The West Green Shipping Corridor will feature:

• A unique geographical location?it is the shortest route from North America to Asia;
• State-of-the-art low carbon technologies: Carbon Neutral Transload Centre and net-zero container;
• State-of-the-art sprinter ships (ships that are faster, smaller and designed to only make round trips between two ports) using the most innovative zero emission technologies (e.g., clean fuels, new hull designs, and advanced logistics and efficiencies); and,
• The distribution, use, and export of clean fuels like ammonia, hydrogen, or methanol?all produced in Canada.

This Memorandum of Understanding showcases the power of partnerships across the marine sector. Partners include Indigenous groups, governments, shippers, ship builders, ports and terminal operators, clean fuel producers and clean tech companies. All parties have agreed to work together to develop this corridor, which is the shortest route between North America and Asia. This partnership takes advantage of world-leading, clean technologies already in use or planned in every port.

For Canada, this Memorandum of Understanding builds on the significant action taken over the past few years. The Canadian Green Shipping Corridors Framework, released last year, helps guide Canadian organizations and industry in creating green shipping corridors. The Green Shipping Corridor Program, launched on December 1, 2023, will invest in the development of these corridors ?particularly on Canada's East and West coasts, the Great Lakes, and the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Green shipping corridors will play a vital role in reducing emissions from the entire range of marine shipping activities. They will encourage:

• innovative ship technology;
• clean marine fuels; and
• the use of clean electricity and other low-carbon technologies in port operations.

By working together to build clean, sustainable routes for shipping, we support our businesses and middle-class workers, and help protect our environment.

"Working together is essential to a greener, more sustainable future. Through this Memorandum of Understanding, we are harnessing our collective will, investments, and momentum to ensure the global marine sector is secure, reliable, and sustainable. We're setting a course for a net-zero future."
The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez
Minister of Transport 

• During the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), Canada signed the Clydebank Declaration to support the establishment of zero-emission maritime routes between two or more ports, known as green shipping corridors.
• Canadian stakeholders have been leaders on the early development of green shipping corridors by signing agreements to pursue green shipping corridors on routes including Montreal ? Antwerp, Halifax ? Hamburg, and Pacific Northwest ? Alaska. Canada is also working with several partners to pursue additional green shipping corridors.

• Memorandum of Understanding for West Green Shipping Corridor
• Green Shipping Corridor Program
• Canadian Green Shipping Corridors Framework (canada.ca)
• Minister of Transport announces Canadian Green Shipping Corridors Framework and Canada joining the Zero-Emission Shipping Mission
• Joint Statement: Canada and the United States announce the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence
• System Green Shipping Corridor Network Initiative
• Canada's Oceans Protection Plan
• Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act
• 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan
• Declaration on Zero Emission Shipping by 2050
• Green Shipping Challenge

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SOURCE Transport Canada - Ottawa