Britain can show the world how to clean up shipping – it starts at Dover
The Port of Dover is at the centre of a bold vision to deliver the world’s first high-volume Green Shipping Corridor – turning the UK’s busiest maritime link into an iconic global benchmark for sustainable trade.
Every thirty minutes, a ferry sails from Dover to France. With more than 120 ferry movements a day, this is not only operating on the world’s busiest shipping lane but also a vital artery for the UK’s economy. Handling £144bn of trade in goods annually – equating to 33 per cent of all UK-EU trade – the Short Straits maritime link is the backbone of just-in-time logistics, feeding supermarkets, supplying industries, and connecting people and businesses across the Channel.
The Port of Dover is also leading a campaign to make this world-leading trade route even more unique: the first high-volume Green Shipping Corridor.
The concept of green corridors – zero-emission maritime routes between major port hubs – was first introduced at COP26 in Glasgow. The importance of decarbonising shipping was further highlighted at the recent Anglo-French summit in London, reinforcing the bilateral commitment to sustainable transport solutions. Enthusiasm for clean shipping has grown, but many proposed corridors face a common problem: infrequent low traffic volumes. The Dover-Calais link presents a unique opportunity to demonstrate success at scale.
Unlike longer routes where emissions per journey are higher, the Short Straits are already the lowest-emission roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) crossing between the UK and EU. Electrifying this corridor would multiply that advantage, providing a dramatic reduction in maritime carbon emissions while enhancing the resilience and sustainability of a trade route critical to both the UK and EU.
The Port of Dover is already working with its customers and partners across the Channel to explore electrification solutions, including ship-to-shore power and grid upgrades. Yet realising this transformative vision requires more than ambition – it requires action and funds.
Infrastructure That Delivers
Today, Dover’s grid capacity stands at just 4.5 MW. Electrifying even a small portion of ferry operations would demand several times that capacity. To fully support a fleet of new hybrid or fully electric ferries, the Port could eventually need over 160 MW. That’s not just a technical upgrade – it’s a national infrastructure project in its own right.
The Port of Dover has already cut its own operational CO₂ emissions by 98 per cent since 2007 and has committed to further reductions across its estate. But emissions from vessels at berth and in-transit remain significant. Transport is now the largest emitting sector in the UK at nearly 30 per cent of all emissions.
Dover’s strategic location and operational scale provide the ideal policy and investment landscape to prove green maritime transport can be commercially viable, technically feasible, and economically advantageous. By turning the Short Straits into a zero-emission transport zone for trade, Dover could offer a replicable blueprint for global green corridor initiatives.
This is not just an environmental imperative – it is an economic opportunity. Dover’s efficiency already saves UK businesses and consumers an estimated £3bn annually. With planned upgrades, the Port could increase the value of trade it handles by 20 per cent, reaching £173bn per year at 2023 prices.
A fully decarbonised Short Straits corridor would strengthen the UK’s global position in clean tech and green logistics. It would also deliver significant economic benefits to local communities – supporting green jobs, upskilling workers, and encouraging further investment in regional infrastructure. What’s needed now is national policy alignment and long-term investment to match the Port’s ambition.
A Call to Lead, Not Follow
Countries around the world are racing to decarbonise maritime transport. The UK has a unique chance to lead – not just in policy statements, but in practice. A high-volume green shipping corridor at the Short Straits is an achievable, real-world solution with the potential to shape the future of global maritime logistics. It can also become a global hub for new green tonnage.
By backing this initiative with the grid capacity and infrastructure investment it requires, the government can demonstrate that Britain is serious about net zero – and ready to lead the clean transport revolution.
Let Dover be the place where decarbonisation meets delivery. Let the Short Straits become the long-term model for sustainable shipping worldwide.
Learn more about the Port of Dover 2050 vision and its role in shaping the future of UK-EU trade and sustainable transport at www.portofdover.com/corporate/about/corporate-2050-masterplan/.
For more information, please contact communications@portofdover.com.
