MALAYSIA NEEDS MORE THAN POLICIES FOR GREEN PORT TRANSFORMATION -- PORT KLANG AUTHORITY

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- The greening of Malaysia’s port sector needs more than policies for green port and sustainable practice transformation, said Port Klang Authority (PKA) general manager Captain Subramaniam Karuppiah.

“Policies are good, as a guidance. As we already have seen in some of the countries, where there are very strict legislations, things are moving faster (for them).

“With just policies and guidelines, but without a legal framework, it may take a bit longer (for port operators to embark on sustainable green port practices,” he told a session themed “Asian Ports and Green Ports” in conjunction with the two-day Asian Maritime Law and Business Conference.

Thus, strengthening Malaysia’s legislation on green ports and sustainable practice transformation is needed to drive the changes in the industry, he emphasised.

Commenting on the multi-fuel transition towards sustainable shipping, Subramaniam said the production of clean fuels including ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen is still in their very early stages.

For context, PKA has created the Green Port Policy, which is focused on incorporating a balance between environmental, social and economic concerns into operations in Port Klang.

The policy focuses on seven areas, namely air and water quality, resource and waste management, environmental management, community engagement and promoting sustainable business.

Subramaniam added that preparing ports for bunkering alternative fuels like ammonia, hydrogen, and potentially nuclear, involves significant infrastructure investment.

“While ports are becoming part of the solution in cleaning up the shipping industry, financing this infrastructure remains a challenge. There is a need for government support, potentially through mechanisms like carbon pricing, to help ports transition and meet these new demands effectively,” he added.

Commenting on the multi-fuel transition in the Asian shipping industry, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) deputy director Lim Xuan Hong said there is significant potential for Asian ports to play a crucial role in the supply chain's journey toward decarbonisation and sustainability, particularly given that nine of the world's top 10 ports are located in Asia.

“As for Singapore, we have been pushing ahead in terms of digitalisation, which goes hand in hand with the objective of sustainability and decarbonisation, which also helps shipping companies to be more efficient and reduce waiting time,” he said.

He added that Singapore has facilitated world-first operations for methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen as marine fuels and continues to pilot and support innovative solutions in the sector.

Lim said the multi-fuel transition requires collaboration, regulation, and market-driven initiatives to address diverse global contexts and technological challenges.

“Singapore has collaborated with technology companies to integrate advanced technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence and digital twins, into its ports and these innovations improve port efficiency by anticipating demand for fuels and incoming vessels, and streamlining processes like document checks and ship certifications.

“The result is faster operations, reduced emissions, and enhanced sustainability, a key strategy for modernising ports and supporting decarbonisation efforts,” he said.

-- BERNAMA