Pratik Bijlani –
The United Kingdom is taking decisive steps toward decarbonizing its maritime sector by creating the first green shipping corridors exclusively for zero-emission vessels. In line with the Clydebank Declaration made at COP26, the UK pledged to establish six green shipping corridors by mid-decade. The first routes, now unveiled, will link the UK and Europe, significantly reducing carbon emissions.
The Port of Tyne is one of the first to benefit from the $11.7 million UK International Green Corridor Fund. The funding will support the decarbonization of the Tyne-Ijmuiden route, connecting Tyne with the Port of Ijmuiden in the Netherlands. This initiative is expected to save up to 850,000 tons of CO2 annually. The Port of Holyhead has also secured $187,000 in grant funding to establish a green shipping corridor with the Port of Dublin, a key route for roll-on/roll-off (Ro/Ro) ferry traffic.
Additionally, plans are underway to establish green shipping routes from the UK to Norway and Denmark, with the leading ports for these initiatives to be announced soon. The funding will go toward the development of critical port infrastructure, including electrification and clean-powered vessel refueling facilities, further supporting the UK’s decarbonization goals.
Tyne, a major deep-sea port, has been instrumental in the northeast’s economy, contributing over $934 million last year. Holyhead, meanwhile, handles the busiest Ro/Ro route between the UK and Ireland, with over two million passengers annually.
These green corridors mark an important milestone in the UK’s drive for sustainable shipping, setting a precedent for global decarbonization efforts in the maritime industry.
Marex Media