PACIFIC International Lines and DP World have singed a memorandum of understanding to develop ways to decarbonise global supply chains.
The companies aim to help each other to accelerate progress towards their common target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
The MOU was signed at the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai by PIL chief executive officer Lars Kastrup and DP World group chief operation officer, ports and terminals Tiemen Meester.
Under the MOU, both parties will collaborate on trial shipments between Jebel Ali Port in Dubai and destinations within PIL’s network, with initiatives to reduce the shipments’ greenhouse-gas footprint.
Over the short-term this will include shipments on PIL’s vessels powered by a biofuel blend, biofuel bunkering, and deploying container handling equipment at terminals that run on renewable energy to handle the shipments.
Over the longer term, the companies will explore expanding this partnership to include other ports within DP World’s global network, and using other alternative fuels, such as e-LNG, green methanol or green ammonia in PIL’s vessel operations and bunkering.
Mr Kastrup said supply-chain resilience and sustainability is the bedrock of global trade growth.
“With the renewed commitment by the International Maritime Organization this year to take a significant step forward to decarbonise the shipping industry, we at PIL are responding actively to IMO’s call and working to invest in and implement green solutions to achieve our target of achieving net zero by 2050,” Mr Kastrup said.
“In this regard, we are pleased to have DP World joining us on our sustainability journey. Capitalising on the combined strengths of our two organisations, we can both augment our sustainability efforts as we co-develop solutions to decarbonise our supply chains.”
Mr Meester said decarbonisation is the single biggest concern for DP World outside the constraints and the physical movement of goods.
“We are transforming our business and the impact global trade has on the climate,” he said.
“We have already committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2040 and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. But we must explore partnerships with companies that share our ambitions and technology to be deployed right now for quicker results.”
