PSA Singapore, Pacific International Lines Expand Collaboration to Decarbonize Global Supply Chain

(Pacific International Lines/Biobased Diesel Daily) In a collective journey towards achieving net-zero greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions, PSA Singapore (formerly known as the Port of Singapore Authority) and Pacific International Lines announced Nov. 1 that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly develop sustainable solutions to cut carbon emissions and optimize maritime efficiency.

The collaboration between the two longtime partners includes the development of a set of low-carbon emission routes for containers shipped by Pacific International Lines via PSA Singapore.

Beyond the MOU, both partners are also cooperating in GHG emissions-reduction levers such as the use of reclaimed refrigerant and the adoption of PSA Singapore’s OptEVoyage, a digital solution for vessels to arrive at the port just in time to achieve bunker savings and carbon-emissions reduction.

PSA Singapore has extensive know-how and experience in container-port operations and managing cargo flows, and Pacific International Lines is the largest homegrown carrier in Southeast Asia with strong networks in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Oceania.

The two leaders in their respective fields, with a common goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, will leverage each other’s expertise, resources and innovation to work towards developing low-carbon pathways.

In April 2022, Pacific International Lines successfully conducted a biofuel trial using a blend of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), also known as biodiesel, and very-low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO).

Encouraged by the results, Pacific International Lines intends to trial another blend of biofuel on its Singapore Qinzhou Shuttle service as part of this MOU.

Excerpt from PSA Singapore/Biobased Diesel Daily: PSA Singapore and Pacific International Lines announced May 29 the completion of their first trial of low-carbon green shipments in a joint effort to build a more sustainable end-to-end supply-chain ecosystem.

This pilot trial is part of the memorandum of understanding signed late last year between the two long-standing partners to collaborate on green and sustainability solutions to decarbonize supply chains.

The pilot consists of warehouse-to-warehouse cargo flow from Singapore to Chongqing, China, via the International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.

The containers, bound for Mitsui Chemicals Asia Pacific Ltd.’s beneficial cargo owner, were transported via PIL’s vessel Kota Ratna and PSA’s coastal terminal and rail nodes in Singapore, Qinzhou and Chongqing.

Green levers utilized in this pilot include the use of biofuel on the PIL vessel, Kota Ratna, as well as landside supply-chain optimization by PSA.

“The biofuel used for this trial, a blend of 24 percent used cooking oil with very-low sulfur fuel oil, abated about 100 metric tons of carbon, equivalent to planting 4000 trees, and reduced the emissions of greenhouse-gases (GHG) by 84.1 percent,” PSA stated.

With first-hand data on carbon emissions obtained from this pilot trial, PIL will be better equipped to assess how it can further lower emissions from its vessel operations—not just for its existing ships but also for its eight new LNG dual-fuel container vessels that will be progressively delivered from the end of this year.

The PSA Port Ecosystem Business Division leveraged container barging, a greener mode of transportation as compared to trucking, to haul cargo from PSA Jurong Island Terminal to Pasir Panjang Terminal for onward shipment towards Chongqing.

In addition, the use of container-handling equipment powered by electricity and greener alternative fuels at PSA’s ports reduced emissions in the port area.

The collaborative efforts by both partners across the end-to-end supply chain translated to planting one tree for every laden container moved across this value chain.

“The successful completion of this green pilot project with PIL is an important step forward for the maritime and supply-chain sector,” said Philbert Chua, PSA’s container division managing director. “Combating climate change is one of our urgent priorities and PSA is committed to work with like-minded partners to put these words into action. This concerted teamwork illustrates a step-by-step measurable approach to further decarbonize supply chains and has unlocked opportunities for accelerated action to achieve our net-zero goal.”

Abhishek Chawla, PIL’s chief marine officer, added, “PIL is pleased to receive promising results from this low-carbon green shipments pilot trial with PSA. With sustainability at the core of PIL’s operations, we are happy to join forces with PSA as we take concrete action to drive a sustainable future. The valuable insights obtained from this trial will empower PIL to further reduce our vessel emissions in the future, as part of our goal of achieving net zero by 2050. Working hand in hand with like-minded partners, we can augment each other’s sustainability efforts in creating greener shipping and providing a sustainable net-zero model to our customers soon.” READ MORE