The Clean Tyne Shipping Corridor project explores new decarbonised routes as part of the maritime sector’s transition to net zero.
A consortium of organisations in the north-east has won funding of nearly £400,000 to explore the creation of a new green shipping corridor that will link the region with other ports in the European Green Corridor Network.
The Port of Tyne
The Clean Tyne Shipping Corridor project is being led by the Port of Tyne, working with partners:
- Newcastle University
- EDF Energy research and development (R&D)
- Lloyd’s Register
- Arup
- North East Local Enterprise Partnership
- Connected Places Catapult
In the UK, the shipping sector produces around 5% of our greenhouse gas emissions and, internationally, shipping is responsible for almost 3% of emissions.
Zero emission maritime routes
Green shipping corridors are specific zero-emission maritime routes where both vessels and land-side infrastructure have been decarbonised. This includes using zero-emission vessels and alternative fuels, and providing recharging and refuelling infrastructure.
Establishing these corridors is seen as a vital step to encouraging a wider adoption of green fuels and technologies which, in turn, will reduce shipping emissions on established routes.
The eight-month research project began in January, investigating the technology requirements and infrastructure investment that the new corridor will need and canvassing views from a wide range of stakeholders including the local community. It will also examine potential barriers to be overcome, such as funding and legal requirements.
Net zero by 2030
Eleni Bougioukou, Innovation Manager for Energy and Sustainability at the Port of Tyne is leading the Clean Tyne Shipping Corridor project on behalf of the port. She said:
This project is an exciting and far-reaching collaboration between government, the private sector, academia and other European countries.
Having such a broad range of partners involved in the project creates a great environment for new ideas, information sharing and innovation.
This project will create new decarbonised routes and many new market opportunities which will be of huge benefit both to our customers, our partners in Europe and the region as a whole. It will also help the Port of Tyne to achieve its aim of becoming net zero by 2030.
About the project
The Clean Tyne Shipping Corridor project is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition round two (CMDC2). The competition is part of the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE), which was launched in May 2022.
CMDC is funded by the Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. As part of the CMDC2, over £14 million was allocated to 31 projects. CMDC2 is supported by 121 organisations from across the UK to deliver feasibility studies and collaborative R&D projects in clean maritime solutions.
The clean maritime video playlist is available on Innovate UK’s YouTube channel.
Last updated: 20 March 2023