The UK Government has announced that the first green shipping routes will be created between the UK and Europe, which will only be accessible to zero emission vessels.
According to UK Maritime Minister Mike Kane, the new projects will receive funds to develop these future routes. The routes include the Port of Tyne to the Port of Ijmuiden (Netherlands) and the Port of Holyhead to the Port of Dublin. The Department for Transport (DfT) is also funding the development of green shipping routes from the UK to Norway and Demark – the organisations that will lead these are soon to be announced.
Green corridors are zero emission maritime routes between 2 or more ports. The UK led the development of green corridors through the launch of the Clydebank Declaration at COP26.
Once developed, should the world’s biggest shipping companies operate along these greener routes, it could transform the ‘fast shopping’ industry, making the global shipment of goods more environmentally friendly.
This is exactly the direction we need to be going in to achieve our mission of becoming a clean energy superpower.
…says Minister Mike Kane.
The funding comes from the fifth round of the government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC5), which focuses on driving innovative solutions and new technologies to decarbonise the industry and grow the economy.
Visiting the Port of Tyne, the Maritime Minister also announced separate funding to help make sea travel cleaner and smarter. Up to £8 million of match funding will be given to 30 projects across the UK to accelerate plans to develop smart technologies, such as autonomous systems, AI, robotics and sensors.
These technologies will help position the UK as a world leader in maritime decarbonisation and will support economic growth and coastal communities by delivering local jobs and boosting local businesses.
This latest round of funding comes from the £206 million UK SHORE programme which is focused on decarbonising the UK maritime sector through tech innovation.
