PTP joins Aussie-backed green shipping alliance, eyes 2030 emissions cut

New Straits Times

23-05-2025

MELBOURNE: Tanjung Pelepas Port (PTP) is teaming up with Australia's Port of Melbourne to lead a regional charge toward low-carbon shipping under a landmark green bunkering initiative.
The move, facilitated by the Australian government's Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I), aimed to formalise cooperation between the two ports on sustainable fuel development, port digitalisation and emissions reduction, which aligns with Malaysia's National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).
Backed by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the P4I project includes technical support to Malaysia's transport ministry in drafting the Green Bunkering Regulatory Roadmap.
The roadmap targets 40 per cent low-carbon marine fuel penetration by 2050.
Melbourne Port Senior Sustainability Manager Tim Dornam said the partnership is expected to be a game changer for Southeast Asia's maritime sector.
"The rising fuel prices and carbon taxes are reshaping the industry. Green transformation is not optional -it's inevitable.
"The collaboration signals that ports can lead the charge," Dornam said during a media briefing with Malaysian journalists under the International Media Visit programme organised by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
PTP in Johor is a joint venture between MMC Group and Netherlands-based APM Terminals.
The port reduced emissions by 30 per cent from 2011 levels and is targeting a 45 per cent cut by 2030.
PTP was ranked the fifth most efficient container port globally and the top performer in Southeast Asia, according to the 2023 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI).
The index, jointly developed by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, assessed 405 ports using the most comprehensive dataset compiled to date.
PTP is accelerating its net-zero drive with full electrification of container yard operations, trials of electric tugs and hybrid pilot boats, and the rollout of AI-driven port management systems.
It has earmarked RM3 billion over five years for automation, digital twin technology, and vessel traffic optimisation, which cemented its role as a key regional player in maritime decarbonisation.
Australia's P4I study identified methanol as the top green fuel investment by global carriers, which reinforced Malaysia's opportunity to position itself as a regional bunkering powerhouse.
PTP is Malaysia's busiest container terminal, and its decarbonisation is seen as critical in aligning with global shipping standards and positioning Johor as a regional green logistics hub.
Meanwhile, in a written parliamentary reply in March, Transport Ministry said the national action plan draft aimed to cut greenhouse gas emissions from ships and ports, aligning with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) targets.
The ministry said the plan outlines phased strategies including short, medium and long terms, to drive maritime decarbonisation.
It confirmed its partnership with Australia under the P41 programme to develop a green bunkering regulatory framework to boost Malaysia's maritime competitiveness and support its push to become a sustainable shipping hub.