Heysham Port leads green transition

The first berth will be electrified in the initial phase, with all four berths set to go live by 2026, enabling zero-emission operations for all Irish Sea ferry routes while at berth and underway.

“This is where the UK’s first green shipping corridor becomes real,” said Martin Olverson, development director marine at NatPower Marine.

“One plug will soon become four, serving every Heysham route to Ireland and giving operators the confidence to move quickly on vessel electrification.”

The project is expected to cut over 10,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, alongside major reductions in nitrogen and sulphur oxides. It forms part of a £100 million partnership between NatPower Marine and Peel Ports Group, aimed at rolling out e-ship charging infrastructure across the UK and Ireland.

“Shipping is already the greenest form of transport, but ports must do more,” said Lewis McIntyre, managing director of Peel Ports Group.

“This project embodies the collaboration, innovation, and long-term thinking needed to decarbonise supply chains and support the UK’s economic and environmental goals.”

The Heysham investment, estimated at £10 million, supports the UK government’s ambitions for sustainable industrial growth and clean transport. When fully rolled out across all Peel Ports locations, shorepower could eliminate up to 166,800 tonnes of CO₂ annually.

NatPower is also building GigaParks across the UK to generate 12.5 GW of clean energy with 100 GWh of battery storage, ensuring port operations are powered by stable, renewable electricity.