On May 5, the world’s largest-class container ship OOCL Portugal docked smoothly at Yantian Port in Shenzhen. The ship connected to shore power, shut down its auxiliary diesel engines, and switched to clean electricity. In April alone, nearly 120 vessels used shore power at Yantian—setting a monthly record.

Shore power replaces onboard diesel generators with electricity from the grid, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 98%. Since 2016, Yantian Port, with support from China Southern Power Grid, has installed six smart shore power systems, covering over 95% of berths. In 2024, the port supplied nearly 25 million kWh of shore power, reducing carbon emissions by about 19,000 tonnes.

Across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), ports are embracing smart and green upgrades. These include new energy-powered port trailers, electrified gantry cranes, low-carbon fuels, and advanced digital technologies.

At Mawan Smart Port in western Shenzhen, unmanned trucks and automated gantry cranes now operate efficiently under full 5G coverage. After a 2021 upgrade, the port integrated nine smart systems including Beidou navigation, cutting labor needs, reducing emissions, and boosting efficiency.

In nearby Chiwan Port, over 60 electric container trucks are in service, supported by battery-swapping stations that complete changes in just three minutes. At Nansha Port in Guangzhou, more than 150 large machines—from shore cranes to gantries—are now fully electric, with clean-energy equipment making up around 50% of operations.

To support this shift, Guangdong’s Department of Transport issued a Green Port Action Plan (2023–2025), aiming for low-carbon port operations by 2025. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s 2024 Policy Address highlighted plans to build a green shipping hub.

New regulations such as the 2024 Fuel Use and Miscellaneous Amendments Ordinance and the Green Marine Fuel Bunkering Action Agenda are paving the way. In February, an LNG bunkering vessel completed Hong Kong’s first ship-to-ship LNG refueling. Two more commercial operations followed in March.

According to industry experts, as global shipping embraces digitalization and green transformation, Hong Kong is well-positioned to upgrade its maritime sector.