Minister for Maritime opened the first
meeting of the Clean Maritime Council, which will
devise a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
from the sector to improve air quality on and around
our waterways, ports and shipping lanes.
The government is clear on the need for action on
emissions from shipping. Air pollution is the fourth
greatest threat to public health after cancer, heart
disease and obesity. In 2016, domestic shipping
accounted for 11% of the country’s nitrogen oxide
emissions.
The Council has an important role in addressing these
issues, bringing together experts from across the
maritime sector - from industry leaders developing
greener vessels, to academics studying the economics of
emission reduction.
Maritime Minister said:
The UK maritime industry has a vital role in
improving air quality on and around water, and
council members will be looking at innovative and
practical ways to reduce emissions from the sector.
The Clean Maritime Plan will bring new opportunities
for Britain’s businesses to design, develop and sell
green solutions to this global challenge.
The UK is already actively developing plans to reduce
emissions from shipping, for example:
- hybrid ferries using battery power alongside
traditional engines are being used between Portsmouth
and the Isle of Wight and in Scotland
- shore-side electricity is already in place at
Portsmouth (MOD), Fraserburgh and
Brodick to reduce engines running at ports
- Innovate UK is funding a project in Orkney to
directly inject hydrogen into the fuel supply of a
ferry
The country also played a leading role at
the International Maritime
Organization in setting a global cap on
sulphur emissions and establishing a new global target
to cut shipping’s greenhouse gases by at least 50% by
2050. The Council further demonstrates the serious
commitment we are making for the future of the sector,
ensuring the UK can benefit from the global shift to
zero-emission shipping.
The environment is also one of the main strands of
the government’s
Maritime 2050 strategy, a long term look at the
opportunities for the sector for the next 30 years.
The clean maritime plan will be published next year and
will include policies to tackle emissions of air
pollutants and greenhouse gases from shipping, while
ensuring the UK can reap the economic benefits of the
global transition to zero emission shipping.
