The Port of Melbourne has announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Malaysian port to together progress sustainable operations.
The MoU was signed during the ASEAN Business Mission Reception in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with the Port of Melbourne set to work with the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP).
The MoU, which was exchanged between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the 47th ASEAN Summit, marks a significant step forward in fostering bilateral cooperation focused on sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity in port operations.
As acknowledged by Prime Minister 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”.
The MoU outlines a shared commitment to advancing green and sustainable practices, promoting the decarbonisation of operational activities and enhancing social responsibility and governance.
The collaboration will be anchored in three key pillars:
- Maritime Emissions and Port Operations: Joint efforts in research and development, exchange of best practices and support for international collaboration to reduce maritime emissions and improve operational efficiency.
- Alternative Fuels: Cooperation in exploring and developing alternative fuel solutions, including infrastructure development, policy alignment and knowledge sharing to accelerate the transition to low-emission energy sources.
- Social Inclusiveness: Initiatives to promote inclusive employment practices, training programs and employee engagement strategies that foster diversity and equity across the maritime workforce.
“This MoU reflects our commitment to being a future-focused port. We are proud to work alongside PTP to drive meaningful change in the maritime sector and support the decarbonisation of the global supply chain,” Port of Melbourne CEO Saul Cannon says.
PTP CEO Mark Hardiman has welcomed the news.
“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,” he says.
“It is through shared frameworks, joint action and mutual respect that we will achieve tangible results in decarbonising port operations and advancing collaboration.”
The partnership between Port of Melbourne and PTP began in June 2023, facilitated by the Australian government’s Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) initiative through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
“By creating trusted spaces for technical dialogue and peer exchange, Port of Melbourne and Port of Tanjung Pelepas, as industry leaders, are turning shared ambition into a practical partnership that advances greener, smarter maritime operations across the region,” strategic director of Partnerships for Infrastructure Simon Cramp says.
“Asian partnerships are core to Partnerships for Infrastructure’s approach and we’re thrilled to have played a part in the evolution of this MoU.”
Cannon added that the “collaboration underscores Port of Melbourne’s alignment with government priorities and our role in supporting Australia’s international engagement”.
“We look forward to deepening our relationship with PTP and continuing to explore opportunities that support sustainable growth, innovation and shared prosperity across the region,” he says.