The Halifax Port Authority Receives Funding to Accelerate Green Shipping Corridor Development
The Halifax Port Authority has secured funding of up to C$22.5 million from Transport Canada to expedite the establishment of the Halifax-Hamburg green shipping corridor and enhance the port’s readiness for future fuels and energy sources.
Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, Anita Anand, announced the total investment of up to C$25 million on February 5, 2025. The funding includes C$22.5 million for the Green Shipping Corridor Program and C$2.5 million for the Ship to Shore Crane Infrastructure project under the National Trade Corridors funds.
The financial support aims to facilitate the development of a low-carbon shipping corridor by enabling the port to accommodate alternative fuel-powered vessels, establish a hydrogen production facility, electrify port equipment to reduce emissions, acquire an electric rail locomotive, and implement an incentive program to shift freight traffic from road to rail.
Additionally, the C$2.5 million allocation will be utilized to alleviate supply chain congestion, expand terminal capacity, and enhance efficiency in servicing larger vessels at the Port of Halifax.
Minister Anand emphasized the importance of investing in green shipping corridors and clean technologies to reduce emissions and drive economic growth in Nova Scotia and beyond.
Halifax Port Authority’s President and CEO, Fulvio Fracassi, expressed gratitude for Transport Canada’s support, highlighting the funding’s role in positioning the Port of Halifax competitively for the future and fostering partnerships with port stakeholders.
Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, Darren Fisher, underlined the significance of the investment in streamlining port operations, cutting emissions through electrification, and preparing for the adoption of alternative fuel-powered vessels.
The funding builds upon the collaboration between the Port of Halifax and the Port of Hamburg, as outlined in a memorandum of understanding signed in September 2022. The partnership focuses on decarbonizing the shipping corridor between the two ports, with a specific emphasis on developing infrastructure for bunkering and exporting green hydrogen.
In late 2023, the Canadian government launched the Green Shipping Corridor Program to support projects contributing to the establishment of green shipping corridors and the decarbonization of the marine sector across Canada’s East and West Coasts, the Great Lakes, and the St. Lawrence Seaway.