UK’s Port of Dover achieves its net-zero carbon target 25 years early
English Channel gateway, the Port of Dover, has reached its net-zero carbon emissions goal for Scope 1 and 2 a full quarter of a century ahead of the UK government’s maritime target.
Emissions dropped by 98.3% from 2007 levels, meaning the facility achieved its ambitious mission in 2025 — five years before any other UK port.
The busy Short Straits (Strait of Dover) accounts for 8% of all UK maritime emissions, making the announcement significant for decarbonisation in the industry.
Impactful measures
Dover, in the south-east of England, is the UK’s busiest international ferry port for passengers, a major freight hub, and the closest port to mainland France. It handles 33% of all trade in goods with the EU, more than 10 million passengers, and two million freight vehicles annually.
The port pursued a range of initiatives to meet its emissions goals.
These included purchasing sustainably sourced HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) for machinery operations and installing 1.5MW of on-site solar generation. It also introduced general energy-efficiency improvements, such as buying renewable electricity and installing LED lighting and heating controls.
Residual emissions were offset through a local regenerative farming scheme, issued under the UK Carbon Code of Conduct.
Dover also recently achieved recertification under the EcoPorts environmental management standard — the only port-specific environmental management classification — for a fourth time.
Setting a greener course
Doug Bannister, Port of Dover CEO, said the milestone meant the facility had seen its carbon emissions “reduce drastically” from almost 14,000 tonnes 18 years ago, but was “not stopping here”.
He commented: “This sustainability drive is an essential part of our Port of Dover 2050 Masterplan. We want Dover to be a global leader putting the UK on the global stage as home to the world’s first high-volume Green Shipping Corridor here on the Short Straits.”
A route to cleaner cruising
Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather added that the Port of Dover was “charting the course for a cleaner maritime future, showing net-zero port operations are becoming a reality in Britain”.
And the port’s cruise boss welcomed the announcement for Dover as a major homeporting and transit destination.
“With passenger numbers growing, delivering our operations sustainably is vital to the continuing success of the Dover cruise business,” said Peter Wright, Head of Cruise. “The cruise industry is at the forefront of efforts to build sustainability in the wider maritime sector.”
