The bustling Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. [Photo/Jiang Xiaodong for Yongpai app]

Ningbo-Zhoushan, the world's busiest port by cargo throughput, is cutting shipping emissions through a mix of cleaner fuels, smarter operations and shorter routes.

The shift has been building over several years and is now gaining momentum. In the 2025 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Center Development Index, the port ranked seventh globally, reflecting both its scale and its growing role in low-carbon shipping. More than 10 percent of large vessels calling at the port use shore power, and it is among the few hubs in China capable of supplying LNG, biofuels, and methanol.

Cleaner energy is a key part of the transition. In April, a container ship was bunkered with 2,600 metric tons of B24 biofuel in a cross-regional operation, cutting emissions by about 20 percent. The port now accounts for roughly 60 percent of China's biofuel bunkering. New vessel types are also entering service, including a fully electric container ship that can reduce annual emissions by over 1,400 tons.

Operational changes are delivering further gains. A berth scheduling system assigns arrival slots instead of relying on queueing, significantly reducing idle time at sea. Ships have saved more than 25,000 hours of waiting time in total, while on-time performance has climbed above 90 percent, well ahead of the global average. Automation and digital systems are also improving turnaround efficiency and reducing energy use.

Beyond the port itself, efforts are extending along global supply chains. Green shipping corridors with European hubs and shorter Arctic routes are helping cut voyage times and emissions, while also strengthening the resilience of trade flows.

These steps mark a clear transition — from a port defined by volume to one increasingly shaping the future of low-carbon shipping.