Green shipping corridors require greater commitment

The interest is there. In many places also the potential. But if green shipping corridors are to become a reality, greater commitment and an increased supply and demand for renewable fuels are needed. This is according to a new report from the national maritime coordinator.

During last year´s climate summit, COP 26 in Glasgow, the Clydebank Declaration was launched, which means that countries that support the declaration must promote shipping's climate transition by working to establish green shipping corridors. Therefore, it is now also part of the national shipping coordinator Björn Garberg's mission to work for such "emission-free routes between two or more ports" to be created.

So how is the work going? According to Garberg's own report "On course towards green shipping corridors", the interest is great. There is a broad consensus among shipping companies, ports, commodity owners and energy suppliers about establishing green shipping corridors in Sweden. But just as with the transfer of goods from road to shipping, not much has yet happened.

"In many cases, no one takes the first initiatives for the partnerships needed to introduce green shipping corridors", says Björn Garberg on the Swedish Transport Agency's website.

"In that context, as a national coordinator and neutral party, I can act as an initiator and catalyst for in-depth dialogues. But in order to get concrete results and speed up the introduction of green shipping corridors, policy instruments may also be needed. The climate step is an example of support that can be given for climate measures in shipping already today, but more stimulating measures may be needed."

In order for green shipping corridors to be established, the supply and demand for renewable fuels also needs to increase, according to the report.

"The production of biofuels, which are produced from biomass and synthetically produced electrofuels, needs to increase in order to make it easier for shipping to adapt. At the same time, the price picture needs to become more attractive to create a clearer demand for sustainable fuels. A functioning infrastructure is also needed to be able to deliver renewable fuels to shipping."