Logistics and its Environmental Impact Part 3

This is another article in the series showing how the logistics sector is reducing its impact on the environment in which it operates. In 2019 the UK government launched its Clean Maritime Plan. This plan lays out how the government would like to tackle the issues of vessel emissions operating in UK waters.  The plan makes clear though that this is not just entirely a government scheme and will require good co-operation between the government ,private maritime industry sector and the educational sector. The UK government believes it pro-active approach to this issue will both encourage innovation and create many opportunities within the country.

The Clean Maritime Plan anticipates that by 2050 there will be many zero emission vessels operating within the UK territorial waters. This will require a significant investment by many vessel operators.  The plan sees this being achieved in steps between now and 2050.

• By 2025 all vessels operating in UK waters should be using their energy supplies as efficiently as possible. All new vessels being ordered to operate in UK waters should have the ability to be retro-fitted with a zero emission propulsion system. The UK would be building out an infrastructure to handle the requirements of the zero emission vessels
• By 2035 the UK zero emission support structure will have been built out and operational in most major ports allowing zero emission vessels to be a viable operational choice.
• By 2050 to actually have zero emission vessels moving commercial cargoes around the UK and to other non-UK destinations

By the end of 2020 the government had intend to take several steps to lay the ground work to enable the Clean Maritime Plan to be able to succeed. These included:

1. Establishing the Maritime Emissions Regulation Advisory Service (MERAS) to give all stakeholders a place where they will be able to get support on the working towards the Clean Maritime Plan. It is also hoped by having an established regulatory body it will make the UK attractive to all developers of zero emissions around the world and encourage them to register the vessels under the United Kingdom flag.
2. Consult on the possibility of amend the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. This applies to suppliers who supply over a certain amount of fuel and have to ensure that a percentage of this comes from renewable sources.
3. Review and implement appropriate action after the Call for Evidence on Domestic Shipping and the ECA consultation.
4. Aim to cut 50% of GHG emissions from international shipping by 2050

The UK government aims to kick start the innovation by providing seed funding for the establishment of MarRI-Uk and launching a government grant scheme for clean air maritime research projects. Finally establish a clean maritime award program to promote leaders in this field which will hopefully raise the entire sectors profile both industry wide and in the general public eye.

The current Coronavirus outbreak within in the UK and the rest of the world is causing major disruption and the long term impact may well have implications on when and how the government will be able to carry this plan out. However it does show that environmental action is constantly being taken to improve the world’s environment despite some denying nothing is being done.