GreenVoyage2050 and China advance dialogue on Just In Time shipping
At the Maritime Thematic Workshop of the 10th Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum in Ningbo, China, the IMO GreenVoyage2050 Programme and the China Maritime Safety Administration explored practical steps to expand the adoption of Just in Time (JIT) shipping across Asia.
Just in Time Shipping
Today, ships often sail at full speed towards a port only to wait at anchor because a berth is not yet available. JIT shipping enables vessels to optimize their speed to arrive when the berth is ready, reducing unnecessary waiting time. This approach can lower fuel consumption, reduce GHG emissions, improve safety and enhance port efficiency.
A study undertaken by the GreenVoyage2050 Global Industry Alliance to Support Low Carbon Shipping indicate that widespread adoption of JIT shipping could reduce global CO₂ emissions from shipping by more than 14%.
Chinese ports were among the first to implement port-to-port JIT operations and have accumulated significant practical experience that can help inform broader international efforts. A key question discussed in Ningbo was how to move beyond a small number of pioneering ports and support broader adoption across ports.
The GreenVoyage2050 team, led by Rob Koggel, an IMO consultant specializing in port call optimization, met with Chinese authorities and industry stakeholders to better understand China’s operational experience and identify opportunities for future collaboration.
Workshop discussions focused on the practical steps needed to scale up JIT shipping, including greater standardization and interoperability between ports, improved information sharing and the development of common procedures that can be applied consistently across ports and shipping corridors.
Working together to scale up JIT shipping
Building on these discussions, the China Maritime Safety Administration and GreenVoyage2050 are exploring opportunities to strengthen cooperation on JIT shipping through knowledge-sharing, mentoring activities and regional collaboration, with the aim of supporting more countries in implementing JIT operations.
Mr Yinglei Zhao, Director Strategy Research and Development Center of the China Maritime Safety Administration said:
“The discussions in Ningbo demonstrated the growing interest in Just-in-Time shipping as a practical way to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. Building on our ongoing cooperation with GreenVoyage2050, we look forward to working with partners across the region to share experiences and support wider implementation of JIT operations.”
GreenVoyage2050 is keen to hear from ports and stakeholders interested in Just-in-Time shipping. Whether you are already implementing JIT operations or exploring the concept for the first time, we welcome opportunities to exchange experiences, share lessons learned and explore collaboration opportunities.
About the GreenVoyage2050 Programme
GreenVoyage2050 is the International Maritime Organization’s flagship technical cooperation programme supporting developing countries in translating the ambitions of the 2023 IMO Green House Gas Emissions Strategy into practical action. The programme provides technical assistance, policy support, capacity-building and pilot project development to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping and advance maritime decarbonization.
The programme is currently working with Tema Port in Ghana towards a concrete implementation plan for JIT – bringing together the container terminal, (maritime) authorities, shipping lines, service providers and other key stakeholders to align on the operational, technical and governance arrangements needed to make JIT shipping a reality. Stakeholder workshops planned in the coming months are the next step in that process.
