Morning, Thursday, 23rd October 2025
Online
This conference will focus on implementation of the Government's recent Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy, examining strategic and practical issues in moving the domestic maritime sector toward net zero.
Areas for discussion include regulatory coordination, economic factors, infrastructure readiness, and workforce issues - looking at what will be needed from policy and the sector itself if sustained emissions reduction is to be achieved across the industry.
It will bring together key stakeholders and policymakers to discuss implications of the strategy and practicalities for advancing the strategy's five policy pillars, including fuel regulation, port readiness, emissions pricing, and energy efficiency - as well as targeted measures for smaller vessels. Areas for discussion also include related measures such as the confirmed expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to domestic maritime from July 2026, the IMO's global shipping emissions agreement in April 2025 introducing international penalties from 2028, and the £30m CMDC6 innovation funding announced in July 2025.
Planned sessions will explore implications of these policies for operators of different sizes and profiles, including large shipping companies, ports, fishing fleets, and operators of smaller vessels. Options for addressing compliance costs and facilitating the use of alternative fuels will also be assessed. Delegates will also examine tensions between domestic UK measures and international frameworks, particularly around timing misalignments and competitive impacts. Further consideration is expected on what will be required to support the commercial deployment of clean vessels, particularly in areas where zero-emission solutions remain technically or economically challenging to achieve.
With the agenda currently in the drafting stage, further areas for discussion include:
- regulation and fuel:
- domestic fuel standards and 2026 consultation plans - coordination challenges between UK domestic measures and IMO global requirements from 2028
- implications for shipping companies operating across UK and international jurisdictions
- strategic options for securing early adoption of zero and near-zero fuels amid cost and availability constraints
- UK ETS and emissions pricing:
- operator readiness for UK ETS inclusion of domestic maritime from July 2026 - alignment challenges between UK ETS (2026) and proposed IMO global shipping levy (2028)
- options for phased compliance mechanisms for smaller vessels and subsectors - competitive implications of domestic carbon pricing ahead of international measures
- port decarbonisation:
- outcomes from the Net Zero Ports Call for Evidence and policy implications -coordination of port planning, grid upgrades, and regulatory timelines
- infrastructure investment requirements and financing gaps
- economics of clean shipping:
- financial implications of green fuel adoption for large operators support structures for SMEs in complying with emissions and fuel regulations
- options for support through transitional subsidies, tax relief or allowances
- technical and economic challenges for fishing vessels and short-sea shipping operators
- issues for other maritime sectors such as underwater tech, aquaculture, recreational uses, coastal infrastructure and environmental management, and research activities
- technology development and deployment:
- outcomes from £30m CMDC6 funding allocation and project implementation - bridging the gap between demonstration projects and commercial deployment
- technology readiness across different vessel types and operational contexts
- skills and workforce development:
- investment in green maritime training and capacity building
- promoting engagement with emerging technology and digital capability - workforce transition challenges across different maritime subsectors
- public-private investment strategies:
- fostering private finance for maritime innovation and infrastructure - providing policy clarity to support investor confidence
- coordination with funding initiatives and market development mechanisms
