Ports of Los Angeles and Nogoya Port sign Agreement to expand cooperation, MOU Calls for Collaboration on Digitization, Sustainability and New Green Shipping Corridor Between the Two Ports
Officials from the Ports of Los Angeles and Nagoya, Japan, have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to broaden cooperation on key sustainability and operational efficiency initiatives. These initiatives include port community systems, digital supply chain information sharing, testing of zero-emission vehicles and equipment, and the establishment of a new Green Shipping Corridor between the two ports. The new three-year agreement builds upon the 2020 MOU.
“Today marks another major milestone in the longstanding partnership between the Ports of Los Angeles and Nagoya,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “This agreement is a testament to the success that can be achieved when ports commit to working together, sharing ideas, and advancing mutual priorities.”
“This agreement paves the way to advance environmental sustainability and operational efficiencies at both of our ports,” said Yuji Kamata, Executive Vice President of the Nagoya Port Authority. “We look forward to further cooperation with the Port of Los Angeles so that both ports can prosper as we move toward a new era of achieving carbon neutrality.”
The new three-year MOU involves sharing best practices and exchanging information on operational efficiencies. This includes the development, deployment, and promotion of port community systems for end-to-end supply chain information sharing. One example is the Port Optimizer™, which has been in use at the Port of Los Angeles since 2017, revolutionizing the port’s ability to plan, forecast, and track cargo in real-time.
Under the new agreement, both ports have also committed to continued collaboration on the development and testing of zero-emission vehicles and equipment, environmental initiatives for terminal operations, ships in port, and drayage trucks, as well as energy use and alternative energy sources.
A central focus of the sustainability efforts outlined in the agreement is the establishment of a new Green Shipping Corridor in the coming years, guided by a port decarbonization plan. This endeavor aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cargo movement between Nagoya and Los Angeles, and promote the use of low and zero-carbon ships and fuels.
Cooperation between Los Angeles and Nagoya dates back to 1959 when the two cities established a Sister City Affiliation as part of President Eisenhower’s Citizens’ International Exchange Program. Over the decades, the two ports’ relationship has been celebrated through numerous visits, exchange programs, meetings, and most recently, agreements on operational and environmental cooperation.
Source The Ports of Los Angeles