Australia and Malaysia chart greener seas with port MoU
New Straits Times
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(From Left) Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia H.E. Danielle Heinecke; Port of Melbourne Executive General Manager Commercial Shaun Mooney; PTP Chief Executive Officer Mark Hardiman; and Australian Business Champion to Malaysia (who is also Lendlease Group CEO and MD) Tony Lombardo.
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor's Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) and the Port of Melbourne have inked a landmark memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance sustainable, innovative, and inclusive port operations.
The MoU was signed at the Asean Business Mission Reception in conjunction with the Asean Business and Investment Summit in Kuala Lumpur by PTP chief executive officer (CEO) Mark Hardiman and Port of Melbourne CEO Saul Cannon.
The MoU reflects both ports' joint commitment to decarbonising operations, developing alternative fuel infrastructure, and promoting greater social inclusivity within the maritime sector.
As acknowledged by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the MoU exchange ceremony, "It's good that we've had all of those MoUs witnessed here today that will lead to further development."
Malaysia remains a vital trading partner for Port of Melbourne, ranking as the fourth largest source of container imports and the fifth largest export destination by container volume.
The MoU focuses on three pillars, namely reducing maritime emissions, developing alternative fuels, and enhancing workforce inclusivity.
Cannon said the MoU reflected the port's commitment to shaping a "future-focused, sustainable maritime sector."
"We are proud to work with PTP to drive meaningful change and support the decarbonisation of the global supply chain," he said.
Hardiman said, "As we mark 25 years of PTP's growth and evolution, this MoU with Port of Melbourne underscores our belief that meaningful progress in sustainability must be grounded in partnership. It is through shared frameworks, joint action and mutual respect that we will achieve tangible results in decarbonising port operations and advancing collaboration."
The collaboration, first initiated in June 2023 through Australia's Partnerships for Infrastructure programme under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), builds on ongoing efforts to align port operations with global sustainability frameworks such as the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
With Malaysia ranked as the Port of Melbourne's fourth-largest source of container imports and fifth-largest export destination, the MoU further deepens economic and strategic ties between the two trading nations.