Electric ships ahoy

The UK is about to see its first electric shipping routes in a bid to slash Irish Sea emissions.

NatPower Marine and Peel Ports Group's project will enable all Heysham routes within the Irish sea to operate with zero emissions while at berth and at sea, supporting full electric propulsion of the ferry services, as the first part of the full electrification of the Irish Sea.

Martin Olverson Development Director Marine, NatPower Marine said: "Heysham is where the UK’s first green shipping corridor becomes real. One plug will then become four, serving every Heysham route to Ireland and giving operators greater confidence on moving to vessel electrification."

The investment supports the UK government’s industrial and economic growth objectives through more sustainable passenger and freight routes. NatPower Marine is further developing partnerships with other ports and shipping operators in the area.

Furthermore, the electrification of all four berths at Heysham aim to reduce CO₂ emissions on Irish Sea routes by over 10,000 tonnes annually, along with significant cuts in NO₂ and SO₂.

The £10 million project is part of a larger £100 million plan to deploy shore power infrastructure across ports in Great Britain and Ireland. Once fully implemented, the initiative could cut emissions by up to 166,800 tonnes of CO₂, 2,180 tonnes of NO₂, 1,060 tonnes of SO₂, and 470 tonnes of methane per year, highlighting the environmental benefits of port electrification.

Lewis McIntyre, Managing Director, Peel Ports Group said: "Shipping is already the greenest form of transport but there’s still a huge role for ports to play in decarbonising the supply chain. We can only do that with collaboration, innovation and long-term commitment from everyone involved, which this project embodies.

"Ports are the lifeblood of the UK and many of the national economic and social ambitions rely on a thriving maritime sector."