The Taiwanese government wants to accelerate the decarbonization of freight transport by encouraging coastal freight corridors. This « blue road » policy for freight around the island aims to reduce the number of trucks on the roads and even wants, in the long run, to use container ships running on liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Launched last year, this coastal shipping container service between the port of Kaohsiung, in the south, and the north of the island, shows more than encouraging results, with one ship carrying up to 300 containers, compared to only one per truck on the road.
The Director of the Office of Maritime and Port Affairs Yeh Hsieh-lung (葉協隆) indicated that this policy would continue to promote LNG-powered tainers and make significant progress towards carbon neutrality:
« We want to encourage the introduction of ships using alternative fuels on our blue roads around the island. Last year, we achieved a total cargo volume of EVP 1.14 million on these lines, for a total of 13 shipping containers providing coastal shipping. Even without alternative fuel ships for the moment, we have already replaced about 700,000 trips of container trucks between the north and south of Taiwan, reducing traffic jams and air pollution. «
According to the Maritime Affairs Bureau, the conversion of these 13 vessels is equivalent to a reduction of 12,000 tonnes of CO2 emitted per year. The government plans to invest $280 million in Taiwan (about €8 million) over the next four years to support companies adopting alternative fuels on this « blue road » of freight transport.
source : rti news
