Ricardo expertise supporting proposed Green Corridor initiative across Irish Sea

A Green Corridor initiative, aiming to establish a zero-emission shipping route between Holyhead and Dublin, has recieved a funding boost from the International Green Corridor Fund. 

A green shipping corridor is a route between two or more ports upon which a zero-emission vessel operates. Reducing emissions along green corridors helps accelerate global maritime decarbonisation. 

‘Greening the Irish Sea - The Central Corridor’, led by ferry operators, Irish Ferries and Stena Line, and supported by technical specialists within Ricardo's maritime team, in partnership with key stakeholders, is designed to explore the feasibility of a green shipping corridor between Dublin Port and the Port of Holyhead.

The project has secured funding from the International Green Corridor Fund funded by the governments of Ireland and United Kingdom, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK and Ireland’s Marine Institute supported by the respective Department of Transports in UK and Ireland. 

The Holyhead-Dublin trade route is the busiest roll-on/roll-off route between the UK and Ireland. In 2022, nearly 1.5 million people travelled this route, with over 6,000 sailings accounting for more than 74% of all ferry passenger movements between the two countries. The ports of Dublin and Holyhead serve as key economic gateways, handling a significant volume of trade, with Dublin Port handling managing 83% of Roll-on Roll off freight and 72% of ferry volumes into Ireland. This study aims to advance the decarbonisation of this critical trade artery.

The stakeholder group, which also includes Holyhead Port Authority and Dublin Port Company, the EDF R&D team and academic partners Maynooth University, will use the funding to assess the suitability of the Holyhead-Dublin route as a green shipping corridor.  Detailed assessments of existing landside and vessel infrastructure will be conducted, accompanied by economic and environmental impact analysis.  The initial focus will be on vessels operated by Irish Ferries and Stena Line and the potential for e-methanol as an alternative fuel, although the feasibility of other alternative fuels will also be considered.

Andrew Sheen, Managing Director, Irish Ferries said:

‘We welcome this government funding and look forward to collaborating on this important project. Irish Ferries already has a strong focus on sustainability and has previously availed of Green Shipping Finance from the European Investment Bank to support our investment in new and existing ships to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency. We hope the feasibility studies for this project can be conducted quickly so that we can move forward to establish Ireland’s first ‘Green Corridor’ and advance our own and Ireland’s sustainability agenda.”

Ian Davies, Head of UK Port Authorities, Stena Line said:

“We’re delighted to have been awarded this funding to explore establishing the first ‘Green Corridor’ between Wales and Ireland in collaboration with our partners. It is one of many initiatives that Stena Line is undertaking across ships and ports in the Irish Sea to support our sustainability strategy. We are already working to futureproof our fleet across Europe by investing in new hybrid ships and have plans to convert existing ships to be able to operate on alternative fuel. This project will allow us to determine the best way forward for our vessels on this key trading route between Dublin and Holyhead, and to assess the infrastructure needs at Holyhead Port to support a fossil free shipping corridor.”

Matthew Moss, Senior Consultant for Maritime Decarbonisation at Ricardo: “Green corridors are an exciting opportunity to decarbonise well-established maritime routes. Ricardo is delighted to be involved and lead the technical analysis. Together, we comprise a very strong consortium ideally placed to not only assess the feasibility of the proposed route but also support its implementation over the long-term.”

Outputs will include assessments of the potential low-carbon energy pathways; a detailed exploration of the regulatory and policy measures that could support the green shipping corridor; and a business case containing project timescales, cost-benefit projections, and delivery plan.

The project will also review opportunities for local and national sustainable fuel production, and evaluate the modifications required at the ports to enable sufficient storage and bunkering. The research team will consult with engine manufacturers, operators, port authorities and alternative fuel suppliers to contrast the viability of converting existing vessels against new builds, whilst there will also be regular engagement with maritime regulatory bodies to ensure any proposals follow international and domestic requirements.

The six-month study commences in October 2024 and, if established, the Green Shipping Corridor (GSC) between Holyhead and Dublin will be the first green route to operate between the UK and Ireland.

Image: with permission of Stena Line and Irish Ferries

This project is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition: International Green Corridor Fund (CMDC5: IGCF). It is jointly funded by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. The funding is being delivered by Innovate UK and RVO. 

CMDC5: IGCF is part of the Department’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, a £206m initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonise the UK domestic maritime sector.

Notes for Editors

The UK Government has allocated £206m Research and Development (R&D) funding to UK SHORE, a programme within the Department for Transport focused on decarbonising the maritime sector. UK SHORE is delivering a suite of interventions between 2022 and 2025 aimed at accelerating the design, manufacture and operation of UK-made clean maritime technologies and unlocking an industry-led transition to Net Zero. Flagship competitions include the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) scheme and the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC).

The flagship multi-year Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) provides match-funding to help bring pre-commercial technologies closer to market readiness. CMDC5: IGCF allocated £1.5m for feasibility studies that examine Green Corridor routes between the UK and international partner countries between 2024 and 2025.

CMDC5:IGCF follows the successful first four rounds of the CMDC, which allocated over £128m to 138 projects. CMDC1 was launched in 2021, prior to UK SHORE.