The port of Dover recently took a big step forward in becoming the first high-volume green shipping corridor in the UK. It has recently been announced that the port was to fund a green corridor short straits consortium feasibility study in order to establish a zero-carbon trade route.
A Bustling Port
Nobody can deny that the port of Dover is a full part of the UK. It’s the closest port to mainland Europe, meaning that it operates at incredible speed. The port of Dover can facilitate up to 120 ferry movements every day, which can carry up to 11,000,000 passengers annually. The port is responsible for handling roughly £144 billion of trade every year and is responsible for 33% of all the UK and EU trade.
Understandably, the focus on making the train route green is a big part of decarbonising the UK.
Transitioning to Green
The transition to green is something which is highly anticipated. The study is designed to focus on the it goes between the port of Dover and the ports of both Dunkirk and Calais. This study will help to support the transition to 100% green crossings, which will pave the way for zero-emission vessels, workboats, and leisure craft.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan is a representative for the Department of Transport and had this to say:
“The UK has always been a proud seafaring nation, and helping the maritime sector to be more environmentally friendly will mean it continues to play a key role in the UK’s economy for generations to come.”
The Department of Transport is not the only party that is celebrating this win either. Christian Pryce is the Chief Commercial Officer for the Port of Dover and had this to say:
“The Port of Dover is leading the way on Port decarbonisation, and more broadly, on recognising the role, we will play in the decarbonisation of the UK supply chain. We are embracing the critical role and responsibility that the Port of Dover has and recognise the complexity of the journey we are undertaking together.
“With sailings every 36 minutes, the port supports just-in-time supply chains across the nation, being the key entry and exit point for over 2m HGVs and equivalent tourist vehicles to the UK Strategic Road Network. We can adapt to a diverse traffic profile, and the flexibility, capacity and resilience of the route are unmatched in the UK, making us, and our French sister ports, the prime option for the first Green Shipping Corridor.”
“In 2022, Dover has moved up a gear in our sustainable ambitions – announcing our ambitious sustainability strategy in May; the Port intends to reach net-zero (direct emissions and our purchased energy) by 2025 and reaching net-zero (indirect emissions caused by our activity) by 2030. This week’s announcement solidifies our position as the vanguard of UK port decarbonisation.”
It is clear that this is a massive win for both the Port of Dover and the UK as a whole - we move closer to our goal of decarbonisation with each new advancement.