PSA International (PSA) announced that it entered a five-year strategic partnership with the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) to advance collaboration on maritime decarbonisation initiatives across global port ecosystems.
PSA is the first port operator to join GCMD as a strategic partner, contributing valuable port-side insights to drive the trial of new technologies and solutions across the maritime value chain.
In the announcement, PSA highlighted the importance of port infrastructure and operations to maritime decarbonisation.
"Ports play a pivotal role in enabling the maritime energy transition. The development of supporting infrastructure — such as onshore power supply, storage and handling facilities, and bunkering systems for new fuels, like ammonia and methanol — is essential for the shipping sector's fuel and energy transition," the announcement said.
It noted that this also includes establishing specific operational and bunkering guidelines, articulating emergency response protocols, and conducting rigorous safety and risk assessments tailored to port environments.
Further, the readiness of port infrastructure along with its downstream logistics and distribution network is crucial for deploying emissions removal solutions like onboard carbon capture and liquid CO2 (LCO2) transport – a key focus area of GCMD's work to scale maritime decarbonisation.
Preparing ports for the safe adoption of alternative fuels
PSA noted that its extensive global footprint presents opportunities to support and accelerate maritime decarbonisation, with operations spanning over 70 deep-sea, rail, and inland terminals across more than 180 locations in 45 countries.
It added that safety and operational efficiency are two key considerations for ports.
"Given the challenges associated with alternative fuels like ammonia, the active involvement of ports will help facilitate the adoption of these fuels. As the number of shipping vessels seeking such fuels will grow in the coming years, ports will need to adjust existing operational protocols to minimise disruptions to cargo operations when bunkering of new fuels," PSA said.
The global port operator noted that GCMD will leverage its global terminals to assess gaps and help ready ports and terminals for such operations, starting with the harmonisation of safety standards and protocols.
"Given the safety considerations of alternative fuels and the complexities of deploying decarbonisation solutions, port operators are crucial partners for GCMD. Their involvement is key to making the use of future fuels and the offloading of CO2 a routine part of port operations," said Lynn Loo, CEO of GCMD.
"PSA's network of ports and terminals is a valuable platform for conducting real-world pilots, from which we can draw practical insights and recommendations to help build ecosystem confidence and accelerate shipping’s fuel transition."
Ong Kim Pong, group CEO, PSA International, noted that as the momentum builds in the maritime sector's shift towards cleaner energy, the urgency to decarbonise and adopt low- or zero-carbon fuels and technologies has intensified.
"PSA, as a leading global port operator and trusted partner to cargo stakeholders, is well-positioned to leverage its global network of strategic nodes and energy hubs to catalyse the sustainability transformation across the port and supply chain ecosystem."
"Our partnership with GCMD positions us at the forefront of the evolving energy landscape, enabling the adoption of future fuels while upholding the highest standards of operational excellence, in alignment with our Node-to-Network strategy," Ong said.
