Port of Tyne helps launch green shipping project

The North East is taking a leading role in a new Government-funded initiative aimed at promoting eco-friendly travel across Europe and creating green jobs for the future.

The Port of Tyne and its partners DFDS, Ricardo and KVSA have launched the Green North Sea Shipping Corridor Project, a Government-backed effort to create a zero-emission shipping route between the Port of Tyne and the Port of IJmuiden in Amsterdam.

Bosses say the collaboration represents “an important step forward” in helping “accelerate” the reduction of shipping emissions, with a commitment to advancing green shipping technologies and creating “resilient” and “robust” infrastructure and fuel supply chains “for a greener future”.

Matt Beeton, chief executive at Port of Tyne, said: “This initiative represents a huge step forward for the port in our sustainability journey and it was fantastic to gather with our partners to forge ahead with our plans.

“The route is a key connection for the region and wider UK, supporting important tourism and trade.

“By establishing this green corridor between the Port of Tyne and the Port of IJmuiden, we aim to significantly reduce carbon emissions between the North East of England and Europe, with the aim of saving up to 850,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.

“The success of this project will bring more green jobs to the region and drive the development of port infrastructure for electrification and the refuelling of state-of-the-art clean powered vessels.”

Peter van de Meerakker, managing director of Zeehaven IJmuiden N.V. - Port of IJmuiden, added: "This project is very important for us, as we need to accelerate the reduction of our shipping emissions.

“With the ‘zero emission’ new tonnage of DFDS, we are taking an important step forward, since a lot needs still to be done on both sides of the North Sea and this project helps enormously speed up and achieve our goals.”

Part of a £9 million investment under the International Green Corridors Fund, the project focuses on decarbonising the route, currently served by ageing vessels, and building infrastructure for cleaner fuels and electrification. Port of Tyne and its partners have all committed to advancing green shipping technologies, with DFDS transitioning to methanol-fuelled RoRo/RoPax vessels.

The initiative aligns with the Port of Tyne’s sustainability ambitions and its 2050 Maritime Innovation Hub, which aims to lead global efforts to decarbonise maritime transport while fostering green jobs and innovation.

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