THE UK will aim to decarbonise its shipping industry by 2050, the UK Government said, without detailing exactly how.

Its new Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 and 80% by 2040, in line with the International Maritime Organization’s target.

The government is also launching two calls for evidence to inform development of plans to reduce ship emissions at berth, understand ports’ future energy demand and decarbonise smaller vessels.

The strategy includes local shipping in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme from 2026, as expected. It succeeds the UK’s 2019 Clean Maritime Plan.

Maritime minister Mike Kane will announce the strategy in Portsmouth today, where the port is on track to provide renewable plug-in energy to ships alongside from spring 2025.

In a statement, Kane said the plan would create skilled jobs in coastal communities.

“We’re committed to making the UK a green energy superpower, and our Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy will help us build a cleaner, more resilient maritime nation,” he said.

The statement did not mention new money for the goal, but referenced the £206m of funding under the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) initiative from 2022.

UK Chamber of Shipping chief executive Rhett Hatcher welcomed the plan and said it “must now be matched by delivering the regulatory framework, technology and infrastructure, including a shore power revolution, required to support the green transition for UK maritime”. 

Transport and  Environment UK director Anna Krajinska said: “It is crucial that ambitious targets are coupled with robust policy measures to slash the UK’s domestic and international shipping emissions without delay.”

The call for evidence on net zero ports will close on June 24 and the call on decarbonising smaller vessels on July 25.

The previous Conservative government had three ministers work on the long-awaited successor to the Clean Maritime Plan before it was voted out.