The UK is set to establish the world’s first green shipping corridors, connecting major European destinations such as Amsterdam, Oslo, Copenhagen, and Dublin. With up to £9 million in funding, these zero-emission routes aim to decarbonise the shipping industry and foster the creation of green jobs for the future.
The corridors will be exclusive to zero-emission vessels and aim to revolutionise international shipping by making global trade more environmentally friendly. This investment is part of the UK’s broader Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC5), which will also provide funding to 30 projects nationwide, focused on advancing smarter and cleaner shipping technologies.
Among the newly announced green routes are connections between the Port of Tyne (UK) and the Port of Ijmuiden (Netherlands), as well as from Holyhead (Wales) to Dublin (Ireland). Additional green corridors to Norway and Denmark are also planned. The funding will focus on improving port infrastructure, including electrification and the establishment of clean-fuel refuelling stations.
Matt Beeton, CEO of the Port of Tyne said, “Today’s funding announcement will support the development of port infrastructure for electrification and the refuelling of state-of-the-art clean powered vessels. This important green infrastructure will ensure that the Port of Tyne and the Port of Ijmuiden are supporting decarbonised routes between the North East of England and Europe with the aim of saving up to 850,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. Bolstered by the Maritime Innovation Hub, the Port of Tyne continues to drive sustainable innovation and act as a focal point for a growing European decarbonised distribution network for green trade and passenger journeys. The River Tyne fuelled the industrial revolution and now it’s at the forefront of greening international logistics.”
Additionally, the Maritime Minister announced further funding to develop smart maritime technologies, such as AI and autonomous systems. Up to £8 million will be allocated to 30 projects aimed at decarbonising the UK’s maritime sector, positioning the UK as a global leader in green maritime innovation. This funding marks another step in the UK’s £206 million UK SHORE programme, focused on reducing maritime emissions and transforming the shipping industry for a sustainable future.
Maritime Minister Mike Kane said, “Shipping is a big contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, so these new green corridors could be a real game changer for the industry. This is exactly the direction we need to be going in to achieve our mission of becoming a clean energy superpower. These new corridors could turbocharge the use of sustainable fuels, secure the green jobs of the future and advance environmentally friendly travel to major European capitals like Amsterdam and Dublin.”
Mike Biddle, Executive Director for Net Zero at Innovate UK said, “Like so many industries, the maritime sector is under immense pressure to decarbonise its transport and process methods. Innovate UK is proud to be a key delivery partner for DfT’s UK SHORE programme, which provides a unique platform for innovators and collaborators to demonstrate real-world solutions to some of the sector’s most pressing challenges. With this year’s round of competitions delivering a host of exciting prospective technologies, from smart shipping drones to methanol-fuelled vessels, UK SHORE looks to accelerate the adoption of these sustainable solutions and help the UK drive towards its net zero targets.”
