Wah Kwong NatPower and Shandong Port Group (SPG) have signed a strategic memorandum of understanding to develop large-scale shore power and ship charging projects.
The agreement begins with Qingdao Port International, one of the world’s most automated terminals, and will explore new business models for electric vessels, establish technology and knowledge exchange, and lay the foundations for global green shipping corridors linking China and Europe.
The central objective of the agreement is to drive the electrification of ships by pioneering new applications for propulsion charging that will reduce reliance on fossil fuels at berth and at sea.
Under the agreement, the two firms will collaborate in leveraging Shandong Port Group’s experience in shore power supply and support the further expansion of NatPower’s global shore power services network, connecting SPG’s ports in the global Green Corridors.
The partnership will also prioritise the export and wider application of these solutions, starting with joint projects in Hong Kong and mainland China and extending into Europe.
The partnership will accelerate the establishment and expansion of one-stop charging solutions for international shipping lines, reducing carbon emissions at scale, and accelerating the energy transition across key global hubs.
“Together, we are turning ambition into action and creating the infrastructure that will power the next era of sustainable shipping,” said Stefano D.M. Sommadossi, CEO of NatPower Marine UK and joint director of Wah Kwong NatPower.
“It is our shared vision to develop green port infrastructure and reduce emissions in shipping, which is central to establishing Qingdao as a leading international shipping centre,” added Zhang Baohua, general manager of Qingdao Port International.
