Pacific Environment applauds MOU to strengthen commitments to a green shipping corridor linking Korea and WA ports

On November 5, 2025, the Busan Port Authority (BPA), the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), the Port of Tacoma (PoT), the Port of Seattle (PoS) and the Ulsan Port Authority (UPA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to strengthen cooperation on green shipping corridors, decarbonize maritime shipping and accelerate the adoption of clean marine fuels.

“Pacific Environment applauds the commitment to continuing collaboration between the state of Washington’s ports and Korea,” said Fern Uennatornwaranggoon, Climate Campaign Ports Director at Pacific Environment. “Electrifying ports and moving ships to zero-emissions reduces the health risks of air pollution for portside communities and port workers. We applaud the ports’ action to protect communities and port workers from toxic pollution and climate change impacts.”

For nearly three years, the NWSA has been working partners on the US-Korea Green Shipping Corridors Project, the goal of which is to study the feasibility of accelerating the transition to zero or net-zero (ZNZ) marine fuels in the trade lanes between the NWSA gateway and the Korean ports of Ulsan and Busan. The studies are exploring: projected demand for ZNZ fuels; emerging ZNZ fuel supply chains on both ends of the trade lanes and globally; ZNZ fuel storage and bunkering capacities (current and potential future); safety and other regulatory frameworks; and ZNZ costs – including an assessment of the “total cost of ownership” of ZNZ fuels, the estimated price differential compared to existing fuels, and strategies for bridging that gap.

“Pacific Environment applauds Republic of Korea’s leadership and investment in zero-emissions shipping,” said Hyunju Kang, Asia Climate Campaign Director. “The Republic of Korea has set ambitious targets at the international level, while also committing nationally to green shipping goals. I am proud to partner with Korea to showcase their expertise with maritime decarbonization and commitment to cleaning up the shipping industry in Korea.”

As major gateway ports in their respective regions, the BPA, NWSA, PoT, PoS and UPA MOU will include: Cooperation and alignment on maritime decarbonization and in-port emissions reduction schemes and infrastructure improvements; collaboration to support the implementation of green shipping corridors; alignment on the standardization of low-carbon marine fuel use and bunkering, engaging in capacity building and developing a strategy around industry engagement; partnership on digitization (data sharing) processes; sharing of green practices, bunkering initiatives, business development opportunities and marketing cooperation; and lastly a pledge to share challenges, best practices and solutions.

Background

A delegation from the NWSA and the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, including CEO John Wolfe and Commissioners Cho, Hasegawa and McCarthy traveled to Busan, Korea in April 2025 for a series of meetings, including one with the presidents of the Korean ports of Busan and Ulsan to discuss the draft MOU. During that meeting, the five port leaders agreed that the NWSA and the ports of Seattle and Tacoma would host a delegation from Korea later in the year for an MOU signing ceremony and other meetings to advance the goals of the project.

Republic of Korea is a leader in the global “green shipping” movement, pioneering green shipping corridors, investing significantly in zero-emission vessel technology, and working toward a sustainable fuel supply chain with a focus on green methanol and green ammonia. In December 2020, for example, they launched Greenship–K, a comprehensive national strategy to accelerate the transition to eco-friendly shipping. In February 2025, they announced a $1.8 billion investment in the shipbuilding sector, with a focus on developing technologies for next-generation, zero-emission vessels.