Commenting on the announcement, UK Chamber CEO Rhett Hatcher 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 leading 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.

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 government to progress this important agenda and reach our shared goals of a cleaner, more resilient maritime sector in the UK.

The Strategy outlines how the Government will seek to meet Net Zero targets set by the IMO in their 2023 Strategy on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships, and comes ahead of crucial discussions at the IMO at MEPC 83 in the coming weeks. 

Furthermore, the Strategy sets out further detail on the forthcoming extension of the UK ETS regime to the UK maritime sector and plans to reduce emissions from shipping through development of future fuels. 

The Government also announced two calls for evidence, on net zero ports and small vessel decarbonisation.

The UK Chamber will analyse the strategy in detail, and will continue to work with Government to further discussions on this crucial agenda. 

For more information, please contact Stef Kenyon, Director of External Affairs. 

You can read the strategy and accompanying documentation here.