The corridors can be network, point-to-point, or single-point corridors (Figure 1). The green corridor projects bring together the entire maritime ecosystem to assess the feasibility of deploying low-emission fuels, thus including fuel producers, ports, vessel owners, and cargo owners.

Figure 1: Green Corridors can be network, point-to-point, or single-point corridors

Green shipping corridors enable early-stage demonstrations of the transition to alternative low-zero-emission marine fuels. They pilot the collaborative solutions required and provide valuable insights that can be scaled to accelerate the transition. This potential was recognized at COP26 in Glasgow when 22 governments signed The Clydebank Declaration for green shipping corridors, confirming their willingness to incentivize the establishment of green corridors by the middle of this decade.

Clydebank Declaration Map

Photo from the Glansager biogas and e-methane plant, Denmark

Vessels fueled on LNG today, can achieve thir decarbonization strategy by switching to bio & e-methane.

As for any other pre-commercial area, value chain collaboration is required for green shipping corridors to be successful. Collaboration is necessary to design the new ways of working, needed for the transition to alternative fuels, where no positive monetary return exists in the short term, and where no previous projects have paved the road. Collaboration and Funding are the key considerations.

Here, it matters to have a stringent methodology to ensure the collaboration and run the green shipping corridor project and to assess how to close the cost gap. A rigorous methodology provides the stakeholders with a path forward on how to run the project, plan for what can be expected by each stakeholder, and a shared vocabulary for the project's funding needs, given the economic unfeasibility. The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping has developed such methodologies for both the early screening Pre-Feasibility as well as for the specific corridor maturation Feasibility. The feasibility methodology provides a transparent view of the cost modelling and what is needed regarding public funding. In addition to a stringent method, a neutral facilitator can help foster collaboration and hence accelerate maturation of green shipping corridors. Indeed, the six most developed green corridor projects in the 2024 Status Report, an independent facilitator onboard.

It takes time to get green shipping corridors off the ground. Stakeholder relations must be established, funding mechanisms must be developed, and actual funding secured. With this in place, fuel production, port infrastructure, and vessels must be built. This takes time, and the benefits of green shipping corridors are needed now, to pave the road for the maritime decarbonization. Now is the time to demonstrate that green maritime solutions are possible, de-risk the next wave of implementation, generate tech learnings, and inform governments on barriers to full adoption.

Photo from the engine of Laura Maersk. The world's first methanol-ready container vessel

First movers are critical for the green corridors. Those companies ready to invest in dual-fuel vessels are cardinal for the success.