UK coalition formed to support alternative marine fuel adoption

A new industry coalition has been established in the UK to coordinate efforts to increase the availability and uptake of lower-carbon marine fuels as the shipping sector works towards net-zero emissions.

The UK Alternative Maritime Fuels Coalition was jointly formed by the UK Chamber of Shipping and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), according to an announcement from the UK Chamber of Shipping.

The coalition brings together organisations from the shipping, fuel and technology sectors and will focus on the availability of alternative marine fuels, port infrastructure and policies needed to support investment in the sector.

Coalition to address marine fuel availability and infrastructure

A key focus of the coalition will be improving access to alternative fuels and the infrastructure required to supply them to ships.

The group will also examine policy measures that could encourage investment in alternative marine fuels and associated infrastructure as shipping moves towards lower-carbon energy sources.

Its membership includes the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA), SEA-LNG, Hydrogen UK, eFuel Alliance, MI – The Global Methanol Alliance and the UK Ammonia Alliance, among other organisations.

Industry group to engage with UK maritime policy

The coalition is expected to coordinate industry positions on alternative marine fuels and contribute to the UK government’s forthcoming consultation on domestic maritime fuel regulation.

It will advocate for a technology-neutral approach to alternative fuels, allowing different fuel and propulsion technologies to be considered based on their potential role in maritime decarbonisation.

The coalition will also call for revenues generated from the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) through maritime activity to be directed towards shipping decarbonisation measures.

These measures could include investment in alternative fuel production, port infrastructure and the deployment of technologies supporting lower-emission shipping.

UK alternative marine fuels coalition: What will it do?

The UK Alternative Maritime Fuels Coalition will focus on four main areas:

• Supporting the availability of lower-carbon marine fuels.
• Identifying infrastructure requirements at UK ports.
• Contributing to government policy and regulatory discussions.
• Promoting investment in fuel production, infrastructure and maritime decarbonisation technologies.

The coalition will hold regular meetings, with the UK Chamber of Shipping and CLIA serving as joint facilitators.