Ports of Los Angeles and Guangzhou to Partner on Digital Technology and Green Shipping Corridor, New agreement focuses on creating more sustainable shipping routes between the two ports; promoting supply chain digitisation
Officials from the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Guangzhou, China, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen their relationship and collaborative efforts. This MOU encompasses various areas of cooperation, including the development of digital supply chain infrastructure, the establishment of a Trans-Pacific Green Shipping Corridor connecting the two ports, and various sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing port-related emissions and greenhouse gases.
Port of Los Angeles, Executive Director, Gene Seroka expressed his appreciation for the commitment of the Port of Guangzhou, stating, “The agreement signed today further reinforces our long-term relationship and like-minded pursuit of excellence in all aspects of port operations, and signifies an important step toward decarbonizing the supply chain.”
Mr. Xiuqing Sun, Director General of the Guangzhou Port Authority, welcomed the opportunity to build on their bilateral cooperation and stressed the importance of sharing best practices and information to enhance operational efficiencies and reduce emissions.
This MOU signifies the continuation of a longstanding relationship between the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Guangzhou, dating back almost four decades to their first “Friendship Port” agreement in 1984.
The three-year MOU outlines plans for consultations on best practices, the exchange of ideas related to supply chain efficiency and digital technology, and sharing lessons learned from the Port Optimizer™, a revolutionary digital community system developed by the Port of Los Angeles since 2017.
Additionally, the two ports have committed to establishing a Green Shipping Corridor, aimed at reducing emissions along their respective trade routes and promoting low- and zero-carbon ships and fuels. The Port of Los Angeles has already established similar Green Shipping Corridor partnerships with the Port of Singapore, Port of Shanghai, and Japanese ports like Nagoya, Yokohama, and Tokyo.
The MOU also includes cooperation on testing and deployment of zero-emission vehicles, cargo handling equipment, and vessels, as well as exploration of energy use and alternative energy sources, among other environmental initiatives.
The Port of Los Angeles is America’s Port®, the nation’s premier gateway for international commerce and the busiest seaport in the Western Hemisphere. Located in San Pedro Bay, 25 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, the Port encompasses 7,500 acres of land and water along 43 miles of waterfront.
The Port of Los Angeles is one of the world’s busiest seaports and leading gateway for international trade in North America and has ranked as the number one container port in the United States each year since 2000. In 2022, the Port moved 9.9 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), sustaining its top rank among U.S. ports with the second busiest calendar year on record. In 2021, the Port handled a total of 10.7 million TEUs, the busiest calendar year on record in the Port’s 115-year history.
Source The Port of Los Angeles