Port Makes Progress in Zero-Emissions Project

On Dec. 12, the Port of Long Beach (POLB) issued a statement that it has made major steps forward in an ongoing effort to reduce carbon emissions from cargo shipping containers.

Partnering with the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Shanghai, the POLB’s trans-Pacific green shipping corridor (GSC) is a group initiative that was kick-started by global efforts to cut down on the use of fossil fuels for maritime transport, as well as reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from one of the world’s busiest cargo trade routes.

“We are a local port authority, with the power to directly affect only what happens within our harbor district,” said POLB incoming CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba. “For example, we offer incentives for the ships visiting our docks to slow down as they approach, reducing emissions, but we cannot set operational standards on the open sea.

Hacegaba continued. “The Green Shipping Corridors leverage collaboration with major players in the supply chain – one of our key tools in the environmental progress we’ve made – to begin decarbonizing the trans-Pacific shipping routes between Southern California and East Asia, among the busiest in the world. This level of subnational cooperation will continue to be instrumental in our quest to decarbonize maritime shipping.

As 2025 slowly approaches the end, the POLB and its partners have made great progress in their efforts to advance the trans-Pacific GSC project. According to Hacegaba, the port has successfully expanded its shore power infrastructure to achieve 100% electrification on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. In addition, earlier this year, the first zero-GHG emissions-capable ship made a voyage along the San Pedro Bay-Shanghai route, with anticipation of at least two additional dual-fuel methanol ships soon to be deployed to the corridor.

“Looking ahead, we are collaborating with the Port of Los Angeles on a Clean Marine Fuel Feasibility Assessment,” said Hacegaba. “This will allow us to determine the current state of technology and commercial readiness in our quest to decarbonize shipping vessels. And we issued a request for information in September 2025 on a pilot project to bunker methanol fuel in San Pedro Bay.”

Hacegaba also stated that Cosco Shipping has deployed a regular methanol-capable service to our Long Beach Container Terminal. Although Hacegaba says this service does not call at one of the GSC partner ports, it is a good indicator of the upcoming demand for alternative maritime fuel.”

In addition to the POLB, Port of Los Angeles and Port of Shanghai leading the development of the GSC initiative, the project is also being facilitated by C40 Cities, a global network of almost 100 cities from across the world committed to combating climate change and CO2 emissions.

According to C40 Cities’ official website, cargo shipping is powered almost entirely by fossil fuels, with the industry responsible for 2–3% of global CO2 emissions. C40 Cities reports that figure could rise to 17% by 2050, if left unchecked.

To the POLB, the trans-Pacific GSC project is of great importance as it not only cuts down on GHGs but also manages some of the more major emitters in maritime shipping.

“It is very important,” said Hacegaba.” Oceangoing vessels visiting San Pedro Bay are the largest source of emissions. Green Shipping corridors are critical because it allows us to target these shipborne emissions, which are generally out of our scope as a local seaport authority.”

Currently, the POLB is continuing to work with their partners in the trans-Pacific GSC project to advance the decarbonization of ships calling to Long Beach, according to Hacegaba, with a 2026 workplan also under development for the Long Beach-Los Angeles-Shanghai route.

For more information on the POLB, including port operations and environmental goals, you can visit their official website at https://polb.com/. For more information on C40 Cities, including their mission to reduce GHGs and the use of fossil fuels, you can visit their official website at https://www.c40.org/.