The Port of Tilbury welcomed the West Ham United youth team for an educational visit as part of Black History Month and Windrush75. The Port of Tilbury was the first arrival point for the HMT Empire Windrush on 22 June 1948 and this year’s 75^th anniversary was celebrated in Tilbury with members of the local community including relatives of people who were aboard the Windrush.

The aspiring young players took part in a guided tour of the cruise terminal and the landing stage where the first of the Windrush generation arrived in the UK from the Caribbean. The tours were led by the Tilbury Riverside Project and local historian expert Sue Yates.

West Ham United became the first high level professional football club to play three black players, Clyde Best, Ade Coker and Clive Charles. The club continues to pride itself on its inclusive and diverse values to this day.

Commenting on the importance of this visit, Paul Dale, Asset and Site Director said: “We were honoured to host the West Ham United youth football team at the Port of Tilbury as part of their educational understanding of the Windrush Generation during Black History Month. For us at Forth Ports, it is not only just about the past, it is about opening the doors to a more inclusive understanding for the future.”

 Jamie Bather, West Ham Academy’s Head of Education said: “Here at the Academy, we truly value the importance of Education for our players and being able to support and contribute to their holistic and rounded development is our goal. We empower our players to be ambitious with their academic studies alongside their football development to be able to achieve their potential both on and off the pitch. 

 “Our U12s are currently completing an education project with the Premier League, which is focused on the Christmas Truce, Windrush75 & Walter Tull; being able to visit Tilbury Docks and spark the players imagination by bringing to life the stories of the Windrush generations has been a fantastic experience for our players and staff.”

Henry Brown, West Ham Under 12’s player added: “This visit today has inspired me to want study History as a GCSE subject because I have really enjoyed learning about the history of Tilbury Docks and the Windrush generation.”

Black History Month was first celebrated in the UK in 1987 and is now marked annually across the month of October. The month allows everyone, including businesses, to share, learn and celebrate black history and culture.

26 October 2023                                Ends

The UK’s third largest ports group, Forth Ports, has set out its commitment and the actions it is taking to achieve a net zero carbon operation by 2042 at an industry launch event in Edinburgh (Wednesday 4^th October).

At the event, the company launched a film which demonstrates its ambitious vision of achieving carbon neutral emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 2032 and creating an infrastructure platform to help accelerate the UK’s path to a decarbonised economy with full net zero carbon emissions being achieved by 2042.   

A cornerstone of Forth Ports’ strategy is its substantial investment in infrastructure, port services and towage to support the build out of the UK’s renewable energy sector, including offshore wind. A private investment programme, totalling £150 million, has already provided crucial support to offshore wind development with the creation of bespoke renewables hubs in Dundee and in Leith to be part of the offshore wind revolution in the North Sea. This investment not only facilitates the transition to net zero but also lays the groundwork for emerging technologies such as floating offshore wind (FLOW) and green hydrogen.  In recent months, the group has unveiled plans for green hydrogen production facilities at the Port of Tilbury.

Forth Ports Group Chief Executive, Charles Hammond OBE, used the platform to lay out Forth Ports’ vision to create a high-capacity FLOW integration facility at the Port of Burntisland in Fife. FLOW will play a critical role in the UK achieving its net zero ambitions, with over half of Scotland’s offshore wind capacity in the deep waters where floating wind is to be deployed.  The Forth Estuary is one of the only suitable locations with the capability to integrate FLOW turbines in Scotland, with few other locations having the infrastructure, land and deep water required.  This vision would produce a unique asset combining key elements of the offshore wind supply chain across logistics, marshalling, manufacturing and marine services.

Commenting at the launch event, Charles Hammond OBE, Group Chief Executive of Forth Ports, said: “With our firm commitment to carbon neutrality by 2032 and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2042, we are driving progressive change in the maritime industry and beyond. Our ambitious vision reflects our dedication to environmental stewardship and our crucial role in supporting the UK move towards a decarbonised economy for the generations of the future.

 “Our existing major investment in green energy, coupled with our commitment to floating wind, the next generation of renewable energy, and our collaborative approach underscore our determination to play our part in driving the transition to a decarbonised economy to achieve meaningful and lasting environmental change.”

Màiri McAllan MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition, said: “I welcome the commitment from Forth Ports, to achieving carbon neutrality by 2032 and net zero by 2042. I have visited Forth Port’s Grangemouth facility, and what was made clear to me was the critical role that ports play in our economy.  It is encouraging, then, to see such a key operator show leadership and commitment to maintain and grow that role in Scotland, as we transition to net zero.

 “This commitment builds on impressive achievements to date, and I look forward to seeing Forth Ports’ full net zero plan being rolled out and how, working collectively, we can help deliver our ambitions for a just transition to net zero.”

The Rt Hon Alister Jack MP, Secretary of State for Scotland said: “Forth ports, one of the UK’s largest ports groups, becoming net zero by 2042 is a welcome commitment. The leadership they are showing demonstrates what can be achieved by one of Scotland’s major infrastructure hubs. Forth Ports is a partner in one of Scotland’s two new freeports, each backed by £26m from the UK Government, and I look forward to hearing more about their plans.”

 Across all eight of its UK ports, including its largest port in Tilbury, Forth Ports is also overhauling and electrifying equipment and machinery, switching to low carbon fuels, increasing on-site renewable energy generation and promoting low carbon delivery alternatives such as rail and barge. Forth Ports is part of the Thames Freeport and Forth Green Freeport* partnerships which are seeking to accelerate the drive to net zero across the country.

Specific carbon reduction actions under way across Forth Ports:

Sustainable electricity – all eight ports use environmentally sustainable sources of electricity, including on-site wind turbines at Tilbury, London’s major port. All new warehouses will have solar roof panels installed as standard, such as the recently built 100,000 square foot facility at the Port of Grangemouth freight hub.  These projects are already satisfying a meaningful proportion of the ports’ power needs.  A programme of rolling out new LED lighting is under way to further reduce power use across all port estates.

Low carbon fuels – for mobile equipment and marine fleet, the strategy is to blend and utilise alternative fuels.  Initially this involves the widespread use of sustainably sourced hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) and, as technology develops, other methods of low emission power.  An ongoing programme exists to introduce more fuel-efficient equipment and marine fleet across the asset base.

Green energy ports – the group is focused on delivering low carbon logistics and large-scale port infrastructure to support green energy generation.  The group has overhauled its rail offering by investing heavily in four of its rail terminals, at Tilbury, Tilbury2 and Grangemouth, alongside progressing the reinstatement of a rail connection to Rosyth as part of the Forth Green Freeport initiative.  The group has invested significantly in port infrastructure to support the roll-out of ScotWind at Dundee and Leith, which will create high quality green jobs and help facilitate Scotland’s just transition to a Net Zero future.  In addition, the group has recently installed shore-side power at Leith and its new development, Tilbury2, is shore-side power enabled to help drive down in-port emissions from visiting vessels.

Scope 3 or supply chain emissions – Forth Ports is working with its supply chain to drive down the group’s Scope 3 emissions.  These mainly stem from the use of steel and aggregate when constructing infrastructure or the purchase of mobile port equipment and marine vessels.  The business is pro-actively engaging with suppliers to find fit-for-purpose, low carbon emission alternatives.  For example, the award-winning construction of Dundee’s renewables quay, called DunEco Quay, used steel pipes fabricated from reused or recycled materials. The port also created a paved storage area by reusing building and road materials from the onsite works, which avoided adding to landfill and reduced – or eliminated – road delivery miles for the aggregate, saving thousands of tonnes of carbon in the delivery of this project.

Forth Ports has collaborated with Fleete, a specialist in commercial electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, to develop a charging hub at the Port of Tilbury. The Fleete Hub, when built, will provide charging for a range of electric vehicles for the port’s customers and workers, including light and heavy commercial vehicles, passenger cars and specialist vehicles. This innovative model allows the port’s customers to electrify their fleet without the challenges of building and financing their own charging infrastructure. Forth Ports and Fleete believe this model is a critical catalyst in decarbonising customers’ operations and reducing Forth Ports’ Scope 3 emissions.

5 October 2023                                           Ends

Forth Ports, the UK’s third largest ports group, has promoted Michelle Primrose to the newly created role of Chief People Officer (CPO) and joins the Group’s Executive Board.

Michelle joined Forth Ports as Group HR Manager in 2021, and in her new role as CPO she will continue to focus on Forth Ports’ people who are at the core of the success of the business. The CPO role will play a critical part in the long-term future of the business and Michelle will be instrumental in developing talent and succession across the business to meet the current and future strategic plans and aspirations, including the company’s drive to Net Zero.

Forth Ports has outlined its commitment and the actions it is taking to achieve a Net Zero carbon operation by 2042 alongside the Thames Freeport and Forth Green Freeport partnerships which are seeking to accelerate the drive to Net Zero across the country.

Charles Hammond OBE, Group Chief Executive, said: “As a Group we are committed to employee growth and development supported by the attraction and retention of talent in our business which is crucial for our long-term success. Michelle’s passion for building a diverse and inclusive workplace aligns with our core values and we are excited about the positive impact that her new role as CPO will bring to the Group.”

 Commenting on her promotion, Michelle Primrose said: “I am thrilled to be appointed to the role as Chief People Officer. The creation of this new role further demonstrates Forth Ports’ commitment to developing and upskilling our people across our UK operations. As part of my role we will focus on continuing to enhance diversity and inclusion as we build on our values and purpose.”

Michelle is a highly experienced HR professional with previous roles with leading businesses including BAE Systems, Balfour Beatty, AECOM and Sainsbury’s. Michelle is a chartered MCIPD with experience in the delivery of successful people-focused HR strategies and also of supporting a large workforce during a period of change and growth. Michelle joins the Executive Board of Forth Ports with responsibility for people across the Group’s eight ports with a workforce of 1300.

13 September 2023                                       -Ends-

RWE – the UK’s largest power generator and a world player in renewable generation, Mitsui – a global trading and investment company with a diversified business portfolio that spans approximately 63 countries, and the Port of Tilbury – London and the South East’s logistics hub, are developing an innovative hydrogen project at the Port of Tilbury in Essex as part of a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) for two green hydrogen projects.

Hydrogen has a crucial role to play in helping the UK achieve its 2050 Net Zero ambitions and is an essential component for decarbonising different industrial sectors.  Through the MoU, the organisations will complete two parallel work streams:

• A small scale ‘proof of concept’ demonstrator project to produce green hydrogen for decarbonising items of port equipment by switching from fossil fuels to hydrogen.
• An initial study into a 10 megawatt green hydrogen plant. The facility will be developed on Port of Tilbury land previously housing a coal-fired power station, transforming an area historically associated with fossil fuel power generation to green hydrogen production, at the heart of the Thames Freeport. The project will also look at options to scale up development over a ten year period upwards of 100 megawatts. The hydrogen would be used for port infrastructure and operations in addition to providing green hydrogen to the surrounding industry.

Dehenna Davison MP, Minister for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, commented: “This project is another great example of Freeports driving the UK’s shift to a dynamic, low-carbon economy by developing the industries of the future.

“This will bring great local opportunities by creating exciting new careers for people, demonstrating one of the many reasons why Freeports are at the core of our levelling up agenda.”

Peter Ward, Commercial Director at the Port of Tilbury and Thames Freeport lead, said: “This is an important opportunity to support the Port of Tilbury’s commitment to achieving Net Zero for our customers. Our business has set out our ambition to be carbon neutral by 2032 and Net Zero by 2042 by investing in the infrastructure in the ports. As part of Thames Freeport, our MoU with RWE and Mitsui to develop a new hydrogen plant at the Port of Tilbury will help accelerate the UK’s path to a decarbonised economy and support our vision for low carbon logistics.”

Steve Boughton, RWE Director Hydrogen Development, said: “Hydrogen is a key component of the energy transition and we want to play a leading role in this, aiming to develop 2GW of capacity by 2030. This collaboration with Mitsui and the Port of Tilbury is for an innovative project combing production and industrial customer use with potential fuel switching of port equipment.”

“Hydrogen will play an essential role in the pathway to net zero, particularly in hard to decarbonise industry. We are committed to playing a full part in the delivery of this emerging technology in the UK, and at the same time creating skilled green jobs.”

Shinya Umehara, General Manager Hydrogen Solutions Business Division, Mitsui & Co., Ltd. “Mitsui has set a target of achieving net zero-emissions status by 2050 and aims to halve its greenhouse gas (GHG) impact by 2030, compared with the level for the fiscal year ended March 2020.”

“Hydrogen is one of the areas identified for Mitsui’s key strategic initiatives as stated in the Medium-term Management Plan 2026. Through this project, Mitsui is looking forward to playing an important role in the realisation of the UK’s hydrogen strategy in collaboration with the Port of Tilbury and RWE.”

7 July 2023

On National Windrush Day, the Port of Tilbury held a fantastic day of celebrations in the London Cruise Terminal to mark the official day where 75 years ago on the 22 June, the port played a significant role for the Windrush generation as their arrival point into the UK from their long voyage on board the Empire Windrush.

This year, the port celebrated Windrush Day with a day of activities for local schools and the community. Invited guests from the Windrush community, boarded a Thames Clipper from London and travelled to the Port of Tilbury where it docked at the exact location that the Empire Windrush came in on 22 June 1948, allowing a generation of people to move through the Cruise Terminal on Tilbury’s riverside to start a new life in the UK.

On arrival a local steel pan band welcomed passengers as they stepped ashore where they enjoyed a Caribbean tea dance with the Ageless Teenagers before they boarded the clipper back for a relaxing for the boat trip back up the river to London.

Paul Dale, Asset and Site Director from The Port of Tilbury. Paul Dale commented: “We held the perfect celebration to mark National Windrush Day. Our historic London Cruise Terminal has played an important part in the community since it was built the 30s and we were pleased to be able to host this wonderful event with Thames Clippers to mark this year’s Windrush Day. We all had a brilliant time.”

 22 June 2023                                    -ends-

The Port of Tilbury, London’s fastest growing port, announces that they have created 40 new jobs, including 10 apprenticeships as well as skilled roles, on the back of strong business growth working with a major global brand customer in the fast-moving consumer goods sector.

The 30 new skilled jobs include Warehouse Operatives, Warehouse Co-ordinators and Gatehouse Administrators.  The Port of Tilbury offers competitive salaries, attractive benefits and a stable career in a growing industry.

In addition, the port is also creating 10 new Warehouse & Logistics Apprenticeships to support the growth plans of the asset and support the commitment to invest in the workforce of the future.

Commenting on the recruitment Paul Dale, Asset & Site Director said: “A career at the Port of Tilbury is a fantastic opportunity. We are excited to be creating 40 new jobs in a dynamic and growing industry. We look forward to welcoming all new joiners and apprentices to the Port who will have an important role to play delivering excellent service for our customers.

 I’d encourage everyone to take a look at the roles we have on offer via our website or come along to our recruitment event in the Cruise terminal on Monday 3^rd July to meet the team and learn more about a career at the port.”

 The Port will be having an open recruitment event on Monday 3^rd July 2023. The event will be on from 10am until 6pm, come along to find out more!

 For more information and to apply for the positions available at Forth Ports, click here: https://www.forthports.co.uk/careers/

13 June 2023                        – ends-

Ellerman City Liners has launched a new weekly shipping service that connects The Port of Tilbury with Poland. The new ‘Poland to UK Express service’, calls into the London Container Terminal and offers a port rotation of Gdynia (Poland), Teesport (UK), Tilbury (UK), and back to Gdynia (Poland), providing a fast and reliable transit time for shippers. The launch of the new service is part of Ellerman’s ongoing expansion of its port connections having already linked three services with Tilbury in the last 16 months.

Ellerman City Liner chose Tilbury as their first UK connection point and have added the Thames based terminal to the rotations of all of their services.

An Iberia North Europe Express (iNEX) service connected with Tilbury in 2022 which links the ports of Cadiz, Setubal, Aveiro, Teesport, Tilbury and Rotterdam. This service adds to the already strong trade links between Tilbury and the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, Ellerman launched an express shipping service connecting Europe with the United States at the end of 2022. The USX service connects Tilbury directly with New York (NY), Wilmington (NC) and Jacksonville (FLA) before returning to the UK via Bilbao (Spain), Antwerp (Belgium), and Rotterdam (Netherlands). Fast transit times underpin the service and it is the only direct service operating to and from Jacksonville.

Shippers utilising The Port of Tilbury can now enjoy direct access to the US Market alongside increased frequency to Poland, Portugal and Spain through Ellerman City Liners’ growing network.

Ross McKissock, Director of Unitised at The Port of Tilbury said: “Ellerman City Liners’ expanding network is bringing increased frequency and connectivity options for shippers utilizing The Port of Tilbury. With more connections coming online each month Tilbury continues to show its strength as a vital gateway for trade between North Europe, the Iberian Peninsula and the USA.”

“We are delighted to launch our new express shipping service connecting Poland with the UK,” said Peter Andrews of Ellerman City Liners. “Our new service will provide a seamless end-to-end solution that is tailored to our customer’s needs. Through transhipment in the UK, we will offer one of the best transit times to US East Coast out of Poland.”

6 June 2023                                     – ends –

On the 22 June 1948, the Port of Tilbury welcomed 500 people from the Caribbean, who travelled for 30 days from Jamaica aboard the SS Empire Windrush, to begin a new life in Great Britain. 75 years later, on 22 June 2023, the Port will mark this anniversary by hosting a day of celebrations at the London Cruise Terminal where they first arrived.

The FREE events on Thursday 22 June, will appeal to everyone and will be a fitting celebration for Windrush75, including

• Performances by Woodside Academy steel band – ‘Woodside Steel’;
• A Windrush exhibition by Evewright;
• Workshops and talks from the National Archives;
• Ageless teenagers Caribbean Tea Dance;
• Local school visits;
• And street food available all day.

To mark the 75^th anniversary of the formation of the NHS which also falls in 2023, the Thames Clipper will run a special boat trip from Waterloo to the Port of Tilbury with guests on board representing the NHS, charities and people with Windrush connections.

Charles Hammond OBE, Chief Executive of Forth Ports said: “Everyone at the Port of Tilbury is proud of the part that the port played in the lives of the people aboard the SS Empire Windrush when they arrived 75 years ago and we are looking forward to celebrating this anniversary in the place that they first landed in the UK. We have a day of celebrations planned and everyone is welcome to come along on the 22 June.”

The Windrush75 celebrations are being funded by the Port of Tilbury and supported by Tilbury on the Thames Trust. The Thames Clipper are providing one of their boats for the event.

Everyone is welcome to come along to the cruise terminal between 9.30am until 6.30am.

 31 May 2023                                            -ends-

Forth Ports’ creation of Scotland’s largest renewables hub at the Port of Leith takes a major step forward this month with the start of construction works for the new riverside marine berth at the port.

Forth Ports’ ambitious £50m project in Leith will create Scotland’s largest renewable energy hub on a 175-acre site – supporting Scotland’s economic recovery, energy transition plans and the achievement of the country’s net zero carbon emissions targets.

The bespoke riverside berth will be capable of accommodating the world’s largest offshore wind installation vessels and will feature a heavy lift capability of up to 100 tonnes per square metre (t/m²), backed up by 175 acres of adjacent land for logistics, marshalling and manufacturing. Working with specialist contractors, GRAHAM, the berth is being created immediately outside the port’s lock gates, meaning that vessels do not need to enter the locked port itself, leading to faster ship turnaround times and the ability to accommodate larger vessels. Works began in January on the marine and land-side port infrastructure upgrades, with completion expected in summer 2024.

The Leith Renewables Hub will be part of the Forth Green Freeport’s strategically located tax and customs sites which aim to reindustrialise central Scotland, bringing up to 50,000 high-quality green jobs by increasing trade and supporting the growth of businesses across the Firth of Forth.

Commenting on the project, Charles Hammond OBE, Group Chief Executive of Forth Ports, said: “The work under way in Leith will pave the way for Scotland to maximise the supply chain value and jobs from the ScotWind offshore wind leasing round. We are committed to playing our part in making Scotland’s renewables future a reality and the construction of this new berth in Leith is a significant step forward.

“Our major investment in Leith’s logistics and marine infrastructure will be crucial to the success of the Forth Green Freeport*. With existing and future offshore wind farm development plans in the North Sea, this renewables hub has the potential to support offshore wind construction projects for the next 30 years.”

 Leith’s proximity to the important North Sea offshore wind sites, coupled with the natural deep waters of the Firth of Forth and existing skills base, makes the port a strong location to support planned developments, as well as the anticipated pipeline of ScotWind projects, both fixed and floating. The Leith Renewables Hub has the potential to:

• Make a major contribution to Scotland achieving its 2045 net zero greenhouse gases target
• Secure the Firth of Forth as the driver for Scotland’s just energy transition
• Support up to 1,000 high quality, long term direct jobs and about 2,000 indirect jobs to Leith specifically
• Further underpin the position of Scotland’s Central Belt as a leading area of engineering and manufacturing skills and capabilities.

As the Port of Leith transitions to become Scotland’s premier renewables hub, the Harbour 31 development planned elsewhere in the port will see the regeneration of land adjacent to FirstStage Studios, providing a place to live and work, for both creative and green jobs. The port will also benefit from the new Edinburgh Trams  extension.

This month, Forth Ports also outlined its commitment and the actions it is taking to achieve a Net Zero carbon operation by 2042.  The company, which is Scotland’s biggest port operator, also outlined an interim target of achieving carbon neutral emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 2032, while creating an infrastructure platform to help accelerate the UK’s path to a decarbonised economy.

23 May 2023                                     – Ends –

The UK’s third largest ports group, Forth Ports, has outlined its commitment and the actions it is taking to achieve a Net Zero carbon operation by 2042.  The company, which is Scotland’s biggest port operator, also outlined an interim target of achieving carbon neutral emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 2032, while creating an infrastructure platform to help accelerate the UK’s path to a decarbonised economy.

To achieve this across the group’s eight ports, the team is overhauling and electrifying equipment and machinery, switching to low carbon fuels, increasing on-site renewable energy generation and promoting low carbon delivery alternatives such as rail and barge. This is complemented by very significant investment in new port infrastructure to support the offshore wind revolution taking place in the North Sea.

Forth Ports is part of the Thames Freeport and Forth Green Freeport* partnerships which are seeking to accelerate the drive to Net Zero across the country.

Sustainable electricity – all eight ports use environmentally sustainable sources of electricity, including on-site wind turbines at Tilbury, London’s major port. All new warehouses will have solar roof panels installed as standard, such as the recently built 100,000 square foot facility at the Port of Grangemouth freight hub.  These projects are already satisfying a meaningful proportion of the ports’ power needs.  A programme of rolling out new LED lighting is under way to further reduce power use across all port estates.

Low carbon fuels – for mobile equipment and marine fleet, the strategy is to blend and utilise alternative fuels.  Initially this involves the widespread use of sustainably sourced hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) and, as technology develops, other methods of low emission propulsion.  An ongoing programme exists to introduce more fuel-efficient equipment and marine fleet across the asset base.

Green energy ports – the group is focused on delivering low carbon logistics and large-scale port infrastructure to support green energy generation.  The group has overhauled its rail offering by investing heavily in four of its rail terminals, at Tilbury, Tilbury2 and Grangemouth, alongside progressing the reinstatement of a rail connection to Rosyth as part of the Forth Green Freeport initiative.  The group has invested significantly in port infrastructure to support the roll-out of ScotWind at Dundee and Leith, which will create high quality green jobs and help facilitate Scotland’s just transition to a Net Zero future.  In addition, the group has recently installed shore-side power at Leith and its new development, Tilbury2, is shore-side power enabled to help drive down in-port emissions from visiting vessels.

Scope 3 or supply chain emissions – Forth Ports is working with its supply chain to drive down the group’s Scope 3 emissions.  These mainly stem from the use of steel and aggregate when constructing infrastructure or purchasing mobile port equipment and marine vessels.  The business is pro-actively engaging with suppliers to find fit-for-purpose, low carbon emission alternatives.  For example, the award-winning construction of Dundee’s renewables quay, called DunEco Quay, used steel pipes fabricated from reused or recycled materials. The port also created a paved storage area by reusing building and road materials from the onsite works, which avoided adding to landfill and reduced – or eliminated – road delivery miles, saving thousands of tonnes of carbon in the delivery of this project.

Commenting on the announcement, Charles Hammond OBE, Group Chief Executive of Forth Ports, said: “I am pleased to lay out our plans for our operations to be carbon neutral by 2032 and to achieve Net Zero by 2042.  We have already achieved a great deal in reducing our day-to-day emissions and enabling our customers to do the same.  Our roadmap will aid the UK’s transition to a decarbonised economy.

“Large-scale market-ready port infrastructure is essential for the deployment of offshore wind.  We have made significant progress in supporting the offshore wind sector through our initial £150 million investment programme – a key plank to enable the transition to Net Zero – with plans to invest significantly more as this market develops, including the infrastructure required for floating offshore wind as installations go into ever deeper seas.

“A greener future can only be achieved through collaboration.  We are a supporter and champion of the UK and Scottish Governments’ clean maritime, net zero and green energy strategies and we continue to collaborate with our peers, customers and suppliers to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions as we transition to a Net Zero economy.”

Transport Secretary, Rt Hon Mark Harper MP, said:  “Achieving net zero by 2050 is crucial for the transport sector and this announcement is the sort of bold ambition needed to get there. Forth Ports’ actions set a clear example of how the UK’s maritime industry can excel in a carbon-free world, encouraging investment, improving infrastructure and creating more jobs – making way for a cleaner, greener future.”

Màiri McAllan MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition, said: “I welcome today’s commitment from Forth Ports, to achieving carbon neutrality by 2032 and net zero by 2042. I visited Forth Port’s Grangemouth facility recently, and what was made clear to me was the critical role that ports play in our economy.  It is encouraging, then, to see such a key operator show leadership and commitment to maintain and grow that role in Scotland, as we transition to net zero.

“This commitment builds on impressive achievements to date, and I look forward to seeing Forth Ports’ full net zero plan and how, working collectively, we can help deliver our ambitions for a just transition to net zero. The package of support to be made available for the Forth Green Freeport, following approval of the relevant business cases, will form a critical part of this.”

16 May 2023                                                 Ends