Australia and Singapore have commenced discussions to explore areas of cooperation in green and digital shipping and will establish a Singapore-Australia Green and Digital Shipping Corridor by the end of 2025.

In an official statement, both parties said this development aligns with the Green Shipping Cooperation initiative outlined in the Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement in October 2022, signed by Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry, Gan Kim Yong, and Australia's Minister for Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell.

The agreement was also witnessed by the Prime Ministers from both sides — while Australia's Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), a Statutory Board under Singapore's Ministry of Transport (MOT), are jointly leading the cooperation.

"These authorities are working closely with port operators, relevant jurisdictions and maritime and energy value chain stakeholders on both sides to galvanise action to decarbonise and digitalise the shipping industry," the announcement said.

Through coordinated efforts, DITRDCA and MPA aim initially to scope areas of mutual interest and collaboration to reduce carbon emissions in the maritime sector.

The statement said this includes the establishment of low and zero-carbon fuel supply chains and greening port services and shipping operations to accelerate the development and uptake of green marine fuel sources.

Collaboration would also involve the identification of digital shipping solutions to facilitate efficient port calls and flow of goods and paperless handling between the ports of Australia and Singapore, all of which will ensure interoperability across the relevant systems.

"In view of the substantial cross-border trade between Australia and Singapore, this collaboration is a significant step towards exploring how both partners can take a global leadership role in optimising their shipping routes to test and trial green and digital solutions," the official statement said.

It added that this also reinforces the importance of international cooperation in decarbonising shipping and the maritime industry.