A green shipping corridor linking the United States and South Korea across the Pacific Ocean is set to launch by 2027, according to South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF).
The initiative is part of the recently unveiled “South Korea–US Green Shipping Corridor Construction Implementation Roadmap” which outlines steps to achieve net-zero emissions in shipping by 2050 and builds upon South Korea’s broader energy transition framework.
It follows a 2022 agreement at COP 27, where South Korea and the US agreed to develop the green shipping corridor by 2027, with commercial sea trials set for 2028.
Furthermore, the corridor represents a joint effort between public and private sector stakeholders from both countries. Key participants include the port authorities of Busan and Ulsan, Korean Register (KR), shipping company HMM, the Northwest Seaport Alliance, and the ports of Seattle and Tacoma.
Both nations plan to develop the necessary infrastructure and supply base to support the widespread adoption of alternative marine fuels, such as ammonia and green methanol.
As reported, additionally, by 2027 a dedicated green containership route between the South Korean ports of Busan and Ulsan and the U.S. ports of Seattle and Tacoma will be launched, with vessels powered by carbon-free energy sources operating along the route..
This initiative follows South Korea’s earlier announcement of a planned green corridor with Australia by 2029, formalized through a memorandum of understanding.
