Authors :
Maudlyn Victor-Ikoh; Okardi Biobele; Victor Ikoh
Volume/Issue :
Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 4 - April
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/2r7uxryj
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/393wa37t
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26apr1300
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Abstract :
Green shipping corridors are strategic to the pathways to decarbonization. This is a route in the maritime sector
that connects ports where only ships operating with zero or near-zero emissions are permitted. Despite the promising nature
of this plan, many of the nations are fraught with challenges that have impeded their progress. This reality poses a challenge
to the vision of the Green Shipping Corridor for major shipping ports on the West African coastline. Against this backdrop,
this paper explores the pathways to green shipping corridors in the West African Region. This study adopts an exploratory
approach through secondary sources. The study finds that West Africa may not be ready to launch into a full green corridor
immediately, as many corridor initiatives stall because the leap from initiation to realization is too large without a costbridging mechanism. Therefore, an innovation testbed approach is considered a profitable pathway to the Green Shipping
corridor in West Africa.
Keywords :
Green Shipping Corridors; Decarbonization, Greenhouse Gas.
References :
- Acheampong, B. O. (2025, February 11). Green shipping corridors in West Africa: Overcoming barriers and unlocking opportunities for maritime decarbonization (Master’s thesis, World Maritime University). https://commons.wmu.se/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3614&context=all_dissertations
- BusinessDay. (2026, January 8). Green shipping corridors: Nigeria’s path to sustainable maritime trade. Businessday NG. https://businessday.ng/news/legal-business/article/green-shipping-corridors-nigerias-path-to-sustainable-maritime-trade/
- Chan, I., Boyland, J., & Talalasova, E. (2025, November 27). At a crossroads: Annual progress report on green shipping corridors 2025. Getting to Zero Coalition; Global Maritime Forum. https://globalmaritimeforum.org/report/annual-progress-report-on-green-shipping-corridors-2025/
- Edwardes-Evans, H. (2024, November 14). COP26: 22 countries sign Clydebank Declaration to boost green shipping. S&P Global Energy. https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/energy-transition/111021-cop26-22-countries-sign-clydebank-declaration-to-boost-green-shipping
- Famave, S., Ezechukwu, I., Oyewole, B., Theophilus, J., & Agukwe, L. (2026, January 8). Green shipping corridors: Nigeria’s path to sustainable maritime trade. Businessday NG. https://businessday.ng/news/legal-business/article/green-shipping-corridors-nigerias-path-to-sustainable-maritime-trade/
- Fenwick, I. (2025, September 10). A global blueprint for green shipping corridors. ORF Online. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/a-global-blueprint-for-green-shipping-corridors
- Irungu, S. (2026, January 11). Kenya’s Port of Mombasa docks East Africa’s first LNG-powered cargo vessel, marking a new phase in sustainable maritime trade. African Sustainability Matters. https://africasustainabilitymatters.com/kenyas-port-of-mombasa-docks-east-africas-first-lng-powered-cargo-vessel-marking-a-new-phase-in-sustainable-maritime-trade/
- Jugovic, A., Sirotic, M., Jugovic, T. & Zgaljic, D., 2025. Green Shipping Corridors: A Bibliometric Analysis of Policy, Technology, and Stakeholder Collaboration. Journal of Applied Sciences, 15(6), pp. 1-37. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/app15063304
- Kosmos Energy. (2026, March 6). Greater Tortue. https://www.kosmosenergy.com/greater-tortue/
- Klein, A. (2026, February 3). The billion-dollar gas question: Can upcoming infrastructure reshape African LNG? Energy Capital & Power. https://energycapitalpower.com/the-billion-dollar-gas-question-can-upcoming-infrastructure-reshape-african-lng/
- Kramel, D. et al., 2024. Maritime sector transition pathways towards netzero within global energy scenarios. Research Square, pp. 1-20. doi:https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4471628/v1
- Review of maritime transport 2023: Facts and figures on Africa. (2023, September 27). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). https://unctad.org/press-material/review-maritime-transport-2023-facts-and-figures-africa.
Green shipping corridors are strategic to the pathways to decarbonization. This is a route in the maritime sector
that connects ports where only ships operating with zero or near-zero emissions are permitted. Despite the promising nature
of this plan, many of the nations are fraught with challenges that have impeded their progress. This reality poses a challenge
to the vision of the Green Shipping Corridor for major shipping ports on the West African coastline. Against this backdrop,
this paper explores the pathways to green shipping corridors in the West African Region. This study adopts an exploratory
approach through secondary sources. The study finds that West Africa may not be ready to launch into a full green corridor
immediately, as many corridor initiatives stall because the leap from initiation to realization is too large without a costbridging mechanism. Therefore, an innovation testbed approach is considered a profitable pathway to the Green Shipping
corridor in West Africa.
Keywords :
Green Shipping Corridors; Decarbonization, Greenhouse Gas.