The Department for Transport has issued its strategy for decarbonising shipping that will see vessels using ‘future fuels’ and plug into shipping ‘chargeports’ as part of a goals for shipping operators to reach net-zero by 2050.

The new Maritime decarbonisation strategy sets out goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2030, 80 per cent by 2040 and to zero by 2050. This will see the UK match the highest level of the ambitious goals agreed at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in their 2023 strategy on reduction of greenhouse gas emission from ships.

Under the new strategy, the shipping sector will be brought under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS). This will see operators of the most polluting vessels such as tankers and cruises pay more for their emissions.

The strategy envisions an increasing use of ‘future fuels’, such as hydrogen, electric or ammonia and vessel chargeports such as that pioneered by ABB at Portsmouth.

Richard Ballantyne OBE, chief executive of the British Ports Association, said: “UK ports are already demonstrating their commitment to net-zero with ambitious targets and investment in new technologies and fuels. The UK SHORE programme shows what can be achieved when government and industry work together on shared goals.

Mike Sellers, director of Portsmouth International Port, said: “To help achieve this ambition, we’re on track to become the UK’s first multi-berth, multi-ship chargeport by providing renewable plug-in energy when ships are alongside from spring 2025. The seachange shore power project, demonstrates the success of both public and private investment, supported by the government’s zero emissions vessels and infrastructure (ZEVI) fund, driving innovation towards net-zero.”

With global shipping accounting for 2 per cent of all emissions, the UK will also be pushing for high ambitions at the UN’s next meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in April, as it develops important measures to reduce emissions from global shipping.

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