Green Corridor at Short Straits (GCSS): feasibility study into establishing a Green Corridor between Port of Dover and the Ports of Calais and Dunkirk

In this project the Dover-Calais/Dunkirk Green Corridor consortium focuses on the development and feasibility of implementing a green corridor (GC) between the Port of Dover (PoD) and the Ports of Calais and Dunkirk. The project takes the Dover--Calais/Dunkirk route, as its feasibility case and will investigate viable energy pathways for the corridor providing a business case and delivery plan for the implementation of a GC, based on roll on, roll off (Ro/Ro) car, van, truck, and passenger carrying ferry vessels. PoD is the busiest ferry port in the UK, responsible for 33% of UK-EU trade, and 59% of all UK-EU ferry movements. Therefore, working towards a future where the unique capacity and resilience of the shortest crossing to Europe can be sustainably delivered is of utmost importance to both PoD and the Ports of Calais/Dunkirk, for port customers, as well as the UK.

The GCSS project partners will collaborate for eight months to identify and analyse the full value chain and determine viable energy pathway options for both marine and landside vessels and vehicles. A Well-to-Wake and Well-to-Wheel analysis will be completed on all viable energy pathways to assess direct and indirect environmental impacts for each pathway. The analysis will also identify relevant regulations and policy, how a GC would comply with these regulations and identify any missing policy measures that are required to successfully implement a GC. The project will ultimately produce a GC business case and route map that can be used to both scale up the number of zero-emission vessels and corresponding landside infrastructure, but also to attract private sector investment and replicate the corridor elsewhere.

The project will not only support PoD's ambition to be carbon net-zero (for scope 1 and 2) by 2025 but also ensures the consortium members, representing the whole port, regional systems, and the investment community can be a part of the first GC. The project will also help support the UK's commitment to the Clydebank Declaration, which was agreed at COP 26, and ultimately help meet the zero emission shipping ambitions of the UK's 'Clean Maritime Plan', envisaging the UK as a global leader in clean shipping by 2050\. It will also allow customers a range of low carbon choices to transport passengers and freight on this vital route.