Shanghai and Melbourne push green shipping corridor

AN IMPLEMENTATION plan for a Green Shipping Corridor has been announced by the ports of Shanghai and Melbourne, backed by non-government organisation C40 Cities.

The move is part of an effort to decarbonise maritime shipping.

Established during the North Bund Forum in Shanghai on 19 October 2025, this new corridor has now moved into its delivery phase, turning a shared vision into concrete actions for the two ports and industry partners.

The GSC Implementation Plan is said to lay out clear steps to advance the use of green methanol and other non-fossil-based low-carbon fuels as cleaner alternatives for powering ships.

The Port of Shanghai has set a goal to reach an annual bunkering capacity of one million tonnes for green methanol and biofuels.

The Port of Melbourne has committed to net zero by 2030 for its own business operations and seeks to progress bunkering feasibility in Melbourne via the plan.

Features of the plan include:

• Completing a baseline and feasibility study and deploying one or more low-carbon fuel container vessels on the Shanghai-Melbourne Route by 2035.
• Sending a signal to shipping lines, fuel suppliers and policymakers that the Shanghai-Melbourne trade lane is a priority route for low and zero carbon shipping investment.
• Working closely with shipping lines and energy suppliers to accelerate the adoption, production, transportation and supply of low carbon fuels.
• Advancing shore power via feasibility assessment and supporting enabling infrastructure at the Port of Melbourne.
• Advancing digitalisation and innovation to support corridor decarbonisation and supply chain efficiency.
• Exploring opportunities to improve efficiency, cost control and integrated supply chain capability while establishing a credible and scalable model for cross-border port collaboration.

The shipping corridor is expected to show that when ports in different countries cooperate, a more efficient model can be created, setting an example for other ports.

“We are committed to net zero emissions for our own operations and we’re equally focused on supporting decarbonisation across the supply chain,” Port of Melbourne chief executive Saul Cannon said.

“The Melbourne-Shanghai Implementation Plan puts those commitments into practice, advancing shore power potential, progressing green fuel bunkering feasibility, and seeking to deploy non-fossil-based low-carbon vessels on the route.”

C40 Cities deputy executive director Kevin Austin said “accelerating efforts to decarbonise the shipping sector is urgent if we are to limit global heating in line with the Paris Agreement”.

“The Green Shipping Corridor Implementation Plan responds to that urgency with a clear and phased pathway.

“It shows how international collaboration can deliver real progress with non-fossil-based low-carbon vessels, cleaner port operations, and a model other trade routes can replicate.”

Shanghai is the main hub port along the coast of China. As the world’s busiest container port, handling more than 55 million TEU in 2025, it plays a key role in the Shanghai-Melbourne Green Shipping Corridor initiative.