A major funding package of £6.3m allocated to A&P Falmouth by the government’s Zero Emission Vessel and Infrastructure fund (ZEVI) to tackle emissions from ships is a catalyst for the future regeneration of Falmouth as a port.

Emissions from ships has become an important issue in the maritime world especially in Europe, and the UK government has announced a multi-million pound funding package to tackle this environmental problem to decarbonise the UK’s maritime sector by 2025.

The UK Government will spend £80 million to help introduce zero-emission ferries as well as cruise and cargo ships into the country’s waters by 2025. The latest move is expected to create thousands of jobs in the UK.

Announced at the start of London International Shipping Week – bringing together the world leaders in the maritime sector – Maritime Minister Baroness Vere said: “The maritime sector’s drive towards a cleaner future goes hand in hand with the Government’s plan to grow the economy and create new, well-paid jobs all over the UK.

“As a seafaring nation, it is in our national character to push nautical limits, and this funding will help to ensure the UK maintains its position at the leading edge of maritime innovation. I look forward to seeing all the industry has to offer over the course of London International Shipping Week.”

A&P Falmouth has been allocated £6.3m for an industrial project to design, build and test a new clean energy shore side power solution suitable for multiple users at the Port of Falmouth. The aim is to provide the UK's first multi-vessel, flexible shore power connections on the Atlantic Peninsula.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) stated that: "The industry encourages port authorities to invest in sustainable shore power infrastructure as well and that shore power is produced from green, renewable sources.

"As part of the EU’s Fit for 55 programme, all essential ports in the European Union will have to use shoreside electricity by 2030. CLIA is encouraging ports where cruise ships are scheduled to dock to prioritise the investment in shore power supply facilities at the cruise berths.

"Currently 32 ports (compared to 29 ports in 2022), representing fewer than 2% of the world’s ports, have at least one cruise berth with plug-in capability. By 2028, more than 210 ships with shoreside power capability are expected, plus additional ships to be retrofitted with the capability, representing a total of 72% of ships and 74% of global passenger capacity."

The 2023 data report from CLIA found 48% of new-build capacity will be designed with LNG engines and fuel supply systems. These ships are part of a future generation of vessels that will be capable of running on renewable marine fuels once fuel providers are able to make them available at scale.

A large cruiseship has a power consumption of 12 megawatts and with that comes technical issues for ports to resolve, where new lines, power plants and infrastructure are all required, sometimes at a prohibitive cost.

Once connected to shore power the ships can switch off generators along with other ancillaries thus reducing emissions by up to 98 per cent.

The Norwegian Company Hurtigruten are building a battery powered cruiseship that will run on a 60MWh battery system. With a range of just 300-350 nautical miles per day the ship will have to recharge its batteries at least seven times on a typical 11 day voyage, another logistical obstacle to overcome.

One project on the south coast of England, the Zero Emission Network of Workboats will receive £4m from ZEVI. This project will develop and operate a large network of 20 electric workboats. The objective of the project is to prove that battery electric workboats can be operated effectively, efficiently, and safely.

It claims their work will deliver savings of 1000 tonnes of CO2 over the span of the three-year demonstration. That’s a saving equivalent to 113,000km driven by an HGV – saving millions of tonnes of CO2 if implemented around the world.

The ten ports located along the south coast include Falmouth, Fowey, Plymouth, Salcombe and Yarmouth.