Green Corridor Interview: Halifax Port Authority

Introduction to our project: Green Corridors were introduced through the Clydebank Declaration, which launched at COP26 in Glasgow in 2021. Their intent is to support the establishment of zero-emission shipping routes between two ports and help decarbonize the maritime sector. Ports play a central role in this idea, working together with peers and other maritime and energy stakeholders. In order to understand the impact of these initiatives in port cities and explain their strategies and goals, the AIVP is teaming up with the research group PortCityFutures to develop a series of interviews with its members who are active in different green corridors. Ultimately there will be a final publication to help port city stakeholders understand what green corridors are, what purpose they serve, and most importantly their potential impact on the port city, hinterland transportation and services, and even their spatial and governance impact on the ports themselves. The Port of Halifax is a key participant in the Halifax-Hamburg Green Corridor. In this interview, the port shares its views on a number of key issues.Interview with Captain Allan Gray, Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Halifax. What was your motivation to join the Green Corridor initiative between the ports of Halifax and Hamburg? The Port of Halifax (Halifax) and the Port of Hamburg (Hamburg) are vital gateway ports in their respective regions and are key maritime entry and exit points for goods moving between North America and Europe. The Ports are connected through two distinct weekly services, ACL (Grimaldi) and The Alliance's AL5 Service (Hapag Lloyd, O.N.E., Hyundai, and Yang Ming), both of which make twice weekly calls at Halifax and generate 466,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year. Hamburg holds the fourth position in global port volumes for the Port of Halifax, which amounts to 20,057 laden TEU, with 14,060 for imports and 5,997 for exports. In 2022, Halifax and Hamburg signed an MOU committing to decarbonize their respective route, potentially enabling the transportation of green hydrogen (H2) and its derivatives. Together, we will work to improve port infrastructure for bunkering, support the export and import of green hydrogen, foster partnerships across the value chain, and share knowledge and technology through regular communication and joint working groups. Our partnership with Hamburg plays a key role in both Canada and Germany's efforts to advance their H2 economies and enhance bilateral ties. Through the "Hydrogen Alliance," both countries have committed to facilitating investment in hydrogen projects, bolstering secure H2 supply chains, creating a transatlantic supply corridor, and exporting clean Canadian hydrogen by 2025 to contribute to German energy security. The Halifax-Hamburg shipping corridor represents a significant opportunity to advance the Government of Canada’s hydrogen development and marine decarbonization commitments, and for the Port of Halifax, which is Canada’s only…