Building an Emission-Free Global Green Shipping Route

- Target to pilot world’s first green routes in 2027 between Busan and Ulsan Ports ↔ Seattle and Tacoma Ports

- Each container ship equivalent to reducing carbon emission footprint by about 32,000 passenger cars

- Expect to expand and collaborate with major marine nations, including Australia, Singapore, and Denmark

 The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that it has drafted a Global Green Shipping Routes Promotion Strategy to lead decarbonization efforts in international shipping and to ensure national interest and benefits, which it reported to the 29th Cabinet Meeting.

 Green Shipping Routes refer to routes that produce no carbon emissions throughout the entire process of maritime transportation by using carbon-free fuels or eco-friendly technologies. These routes have emerged as major core policy measures for nations seeking to take the lead in eco-friendly shipping and shipbuilding sectors in line with tightened carbon regulations by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

 Already, more than 78% of the order backlog of domestic shipyards are being constructed as eco-friendly vessels, while the race to lead decarbonization initiatives in shipping and port sectors continues to intensify, as evidenced by the announcement on the collaborative efforts to build a total of 44 green shipping routes worldwide,* to be based around major hub ports, including Rotterdam, Shanghai, and Singapore.

 To proactively respond to such changes in the international environment, the Korean government expressed its intent “to contribute to connecting green shipping routes to destinations around the world based on Korea’s eco-friendly shipping solutions” during the G20 Summit and the APEC Ministerial Meeting in 2023. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has prepared the following detailed implementation strategy to systematically deliver on this plan:

 First, establish the world’s first trans-Pacific Green Shipping Route through cooperation between the central governments of Korea and the United States.
Second, promote expansion of and collaboration on Green Shipping Routes with major shipping nations, including Australia, Singapore, and Denmark.
Third, lay the foundation for building Green Shipping Routes by demonstrating the ability to use eco-friendly fuel supply and preparing a relevant system.
Fourth, provide Korean Green Shipping Route Solutions to developing economies and strengthen international cooperation.