The Port of Dover has announced three ambitious targets that it says will put it at the vanguard of decarbonisation within the UK ports industry, and help position Britain as a global leader in delivering one of the key COP26 commitments following the UK government’s hosting of the global climate summit last November.
Handling £144 billion of trade, the Port of Dover provides almost 60 per cent of all ferry journeys between the UK and Europe that carry around one-third of all HGVs using major UK seaports. It is also a leading UK cruise and cargo port, and work across the business has already seen Dover reduce its carbon footprint by a reported 85 per cent since 2007.
Port of Dover chief executive, Doug Bannister, said: ”Dover is located at a critical intersection where global trade routes meet the primary gateway between the UK and its main trading partner, the EU.
“Having the fastest transit times and the most frequent services situated next to the world’s busiest shipping lane, we already lead the way in how much activity takes place here. We can and must, therefore, also lead the way by delivering a profound improvement in the overall carbon footprint of UK supply chains, which we can do much faster because of our geographic advantage.”
The Port is also aiming to become the world’s first high-volume Green Shipping Corridor. According to the announcement, market commitments to the route shows that trade through the Port of Dover is set to grow in the years ahead, and so Dover’s commitment is aiming to help deliver on the Government’s ambition for clean maritime growth as part of the Department for Transport’s flagship Maritime 2050 strategy, the Clean Maritime Plan and the Clydebank Declaration announced in Glasgow at COP26.
The targets were unveiled during a visit to the Port by Maritime Minister, Robert Courts MP. Courts, said: “I welcome the Port of Dover’s commitment to champion the crucial journey to decarbonisation. The challenging targets demonstrate the leading role Dover wishes to take in delivering our Clean Maritime Plan and ensuring Britain remains at the forefront of the maritime industry in tackling this global issue.”
The targets will be pursued through a combination of activities, such as sourcing alternative fuels, utilisation of renewable energy sources, port electrification, offsetting and minimising carbon emissions in procurement and development projects, and through partnership working with stakeholders including our community, supply chains, sister ports, and customers.
