If ASEAN successfully develops this carbon transport hub, the implications extend far beyond its borders.

In January 2025, as the Northern Pathfinder—the world’s first liquid CO₂ carriers for large-scale CCS—docked in Singapore’s bustling port, it signalled more than just a refuelling stop.

This 130-metre, 8,000-tonne capacity vessel might embody a pivotal moment in Southeast Asia’s climate strategy: the emergence of maritime carbon transport as the connective tissue in the region’s decarbonisation efforts.

As ASEAN nations accelerate their net-zero transitions amidst continued fossil fuel dependence, could the region collectively sail the future of carbon shipping and establish its own Rotterdam of Carbon?

This op-ed is published on Asian Power. Read the full article here.