British Ports Association - Experts & Thought Leaders

The British Ports Association (BPA) has published a new report bringing together a series of case studies from ports across the UK, highlighting the wide range of community and stakeholder projects taking place across the sector.  The report – Ports and their Communities – showcases examples from a variety of ports of all sizes and types, demonstrating how the UK ports industry is making a positive difference in their local areas. From education outreach and environmental initiatives to heritage preservation, local partnerships, and charitable activities, the projects featured underline the deep connections ports have with the communities they serve.  Supporting local well-being As well as being vital national gateways for trade, transport, and energy, the report shows how UK ports contribute much more than economic value. Across the country, ports are investing time, expertise and resources in activities that support local wellbeing, inclusion, and sustainability. The report is also an open resource for the sector, enabling other ports to learn from their peers, share best practice, and be inspired to enhance their own local engagement and community programmes. Social value Commencing on the report, Zoe Ojo-Earl, Finance and Operations Manager at the British Ports Association, who led the work compiling the case studies, said: “Ports sit at the heart of their communities, and this report shines a light on the extraordinary variety of ways they support local people and places.” Zoe Ojo-Earl adds, “From Aberdeen’s long-term partnerships with local charities and its Making Food Fun initiative for young people, to Belfast Harbour’s transformative community awards and volunteering schemes, and Shoreham’s focus on sustainability and local education projects, ports are delivering genuine social value.” Shift towards embedding community engagement “These initiatives aren’t one-off gestures; they’re part of a wider shift towards embedding community engagement into how ports operate every day. Small initiatives led by local teams to long-term collaborations with charities, schools and environmental groups, the examples collected in this report show how ports across the UK are going above and beyond to make a positive impact,” continued Zoe Ojo-Earl. “We hope this report will inspire others to build on that success and continue strengthening relationships with their communities.”

Accelleron will launch a landmark Net Zero report at London International Shipping Week (LISW) this month, calling on shipping to join forces with other industries and pool demand for carbon-neutral fuels. The call to decarbonise shipping has sparked a technological renaissance in the past decade that has enabled vessels to slash emissions in a variety of ways and be powered by carbon-neutral fuels. But the production of such fuels at scale and at affordable prices has yet to materialise. IMO’s approaching targets Accelleron’s report fuses proprietary modelling with ample insights from peers across the shipping The result? While over a hundred billion dollars have been invested in maritime decarbonisation, carbon emissions have continued to rise, widening the gap to the IMO’s approaching targets. Accelleron’s report combines proprietary modelling with extensive insights from peers across the shipping value chain to determine the current stalemate and map a comprehensive way out: Pool demand for hydrogen-based fuels with other hard-to-abate sectors, such as aviation, steel, power and agriculture to trigger scaleable investment in production and infrastructure. Empower ports to enable change by bringing together industry to aggregate demand, orchestrate supply chains and reduce risk for investors. By catalysing cross-sector cooperation, shipping can be driver of the energy transition in hard-to-abate sectors rather than a passenger. Shipping’s 2030 emissions reduction target “The stakes are high as we strive to meet shipping’s 2030 emissions reduction target. Success hinges on implementing energy-saving technologies and going viral with fuel efficiency. But that’s just the first step in decarbonisation,” said Daniel Bischofberger, Chief Executive Officer at Accelleron. He adds, “The bigger challenge is developing carbon-neutral fuels, which are critical not only for the decarbonisation of maritime but for sectors contributing over 70% of global emissions. Solving this will require unprecedented cross-industry collaboration and a shared commitment to accelerating fuel development and adoption.” Report at LISW’s Global Hub Accelleron’s report is a call to action - and an invitation - to build the solutions already known to be possible. Accelleron will launch the report at LISW’s Global Hub on Tuesday, 16th September (1400–1600 UK time) and will host a panel discussion, followed by a Q&A, with: Patrick Verhoeven, Managing Director, International Association of Ports and Harbors Mark Simmonds, Director of Policy and External Affairs, British Ports Association Chris Waddington, Technical Director, International Chamber of Shipping Isabelle Ireland, Head of Operations, Intercontinental Energy Matt Dunlop, Group Director, Sustainability & Decarbonisation at V. Group, Strategic Partner, Secondee, Mærsk Mc Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping Christoph Rofka, President, Medium and Low Speed, Accelleron Martin Crawford-Brunt, Chief Executive Officer, Lookout Maritime, and Council Member, Baltic Exchange (Moderator) The panel will explore questions such as: Why shipping’s decarbonisation has stalled despite major technological advances The scale of investment required for green hydrogen as the foundation of shipping’s net-zero future How fragmented demand is blocking progress and what we can do about it The critical role of ports as a nexus for cross-sector demand aggregation How shipping can act as a catalyst for the wider cross-sector energy transition

Fuels of the future and shipping charge points in harbours are at the centre of a major new strategy to make Britain’s shipping fleet net zero by 2050 and drive growth in coastal communities. The Maritime Minister has revealed the Government’s new goals for all vessels that operate in UK waters and dock at UK ports to be carbon-free and help vessel owners, operators and scientists make emission-free voyages a reality. Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy sets out goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 Part of the Government’s Plan for Change to propel the UK towards becoming a green energy superpower and drive growth, the new Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy sets out goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030, 80% by 2040 and to zero by 2050.  This will see the UK match the highest level of the ambitious goals agreed at the International Maritime Organization in their 2023 Strategy on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emission from Ships. Investment in green technologies Investment in green technologies and fuels will cement the UK as a clean energy superpower and encourage a green economic revival at the local level, helping to build high-skilled jobs in coastal communities, delivering a local boon to cities and towns. Under the new strategy, the shipping sector will be brought under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS). This will see operators of larger vessels such as tankers and cruises – which cause the most pollution - pay more for their greenhouse gas emissions. New green shipping technologies The strategy sets out plans to reduce emissions from shipping and raise the use of clean fuels Furthermore, the strategy sets out plans to reduce emissions from shipping and increase the use of clean fuels and technologies, such as hydrogen, electric or ammonia vessels. Later, the Minister will launch the new strategy in Portsmouth with vessel chargeport pioneer ABB and demonstrate how these new green shipping technologies will bring in private investment, create thousands more jobs, and revitalise coastal communities. Such investment has already seen growth in coastal regions, with the £206m of UK Shore funding having already supported over 300 organisations across every nation and region in the UK, and secured over £100 million of private investment, helping to kickstart economic growth. Climate change Maritime Minister Mike Kane said: “Climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face today. Working together with industry and international partners, we are driving down emissions in every corner of the economy." “As part of our Plan for Change, we’re committed to making the UK a green energy superpower, and our Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy will help us build a cleaner, more resilient maritime nation.”  Net zero with ambitious targets The government has launched two calls for proof to help inform the growth of measures In addition, the Government is also launching two calls for evidence now to help inform the development of measures needed to reduce emissions at berth, understand the future energy demand at ports and decarbonise smaller vessels.  Richard Ballantyne OBE, Chief Executive of the British Ports Association, said: “We welcome today's announcement. UK ports are already demonstrating their commitment to net zero with ambitious targets and investment in new technologies and fuels." Investment and decarbonisation for vessels Ballantyne added: "The UK SHORE programme shows what can be achieved when government and industry work together on shared goals." "We will continue to work closely with the Department for Transport on lowering barriers to investment and decarbonisation for both ports and vessels and this strategy will help set a clear direction and expectations well into the future. We look forward to a continued close partnership built on common aims.” Challenge and opportunity for the maritime sector Chris Shirling-Rooke, Chief Executive of Maritime UK, said: “Decarbonisation is both an enormous challenge and opportunity for the maritime sector, with huge potential for growth, jobs and innovation in our coastal communities, and across the whole of the United Kingdom."  "It is vital that our country continues to drive change and chase growth by creating a cleaner and more sustainable future. We welcome the Government’s commitment today and look forward to continuing to work with them on the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy.” Zero emissions vessels and infrastructure Mike Sellers, Director of Portsmouth International Port, said: “We welcome the announcement of the new Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy, which the port’s masterplan very much aligns with. To help achieve this ambition, we’re on track to become the UK’s first multi-berth, multi-ship ‘chargeport’ by providing renewable plug-in energy when ships are alongside from Spring 2025." "The Seachange shore power project, demonstrates the success of both public and private investment, supported by the government’s zero emissions vessels and infrastructure (ZEVI) fund, driving innovation towards net zero. We’re pleased to show the minister what’s happening in Portsmouth and how this could be a model for ports across the country.” Net zero emissions by 2050 Rhett Hatcher, CEO of the UK Chamber of Shipping, said: “The UK Chamber is proud to have led the way on decarbonisation, publicly calling for the global shipping industry to reach net zero emissions by 2050, prior to the UK Government and IMO Commitments." "Across our sector, we have already invested in new technologies and pioneering innovations to meet our commitments and are pioneering the drive towards net zero. We therefore welcome the Government’s publication of the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy, as a much-needed successor to the 2019 Clean Maritime Plan." Green transition for UK maritime Hatcher added: “The Government’s strategy must now be matched by delivering the regulatory framework, technology and infrastructure, including a shore power revolution, required to support the green transition for UK maritime, bringing benefits to maritime communities and the UK economy." "We look forward to working collaboratively alongside the government to progress this important agenda and reach our shared goals of a cleaner, more resilient maritime sector in the UK.” Reduce emissions from global shipping Anna Krajinska, UK Director at Transport & Environment (T&E), said: "T&E welcomes the government's commitment to reduce shipping emissions by 30% by 2030, 80% by 2040 and net zero by 2050. It is crucial that ambitious targets are coupled with robust policy measures to slash the UK’s domestic and international shipping emissions without delay." With global shipping accounting for 2% of all emissions, the UK will push for high ambitions at the UN’s next meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in April, as it develops important measures to reduce emissions from global shipping.