“Abstract

Background/Objectives: UK ports are central to maritime decarbonisation, but comparable evidence on implementation remains limited. This study examines documented practices at 16 major UK ports represented by 17 analytical cases. Methods: A documentary multiple-case design classified 408 case indicator assessments across six dimensions and 24 indicators. Five ordered categories described documented implementation maturity, and results were compared using category frequencies and distributions. Results: Solar generation, efficient infrastructure, equipment electrification, rail connectivity, and industry partnerships were more extensively documented. Wind, hydrogen, green corridors, and just-in-time operations were largely absent from the public record or at planning and pilot stages. Patterns also varied by port type and ownership. Conclusions: The study identifies transferable implementation patterns while distinguishing documented activity from verified emissions effectiveness. Greater disclosure, coordinated infrastructure planning, and sustained cross-sector partnerships are needed to support wider implementation.”

 

The full article is accessible via:

https://doi.org/10.3390/logistics10090197

For related publications please see Resources – UK National Clean Maritime Research Hub

“Abstract

The FuelEU Maritime Regulation introduces a greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity standard for maritime transport, enforced through financial penalties for non-compliance. While intended to promote cost-effective decarbonization, this paper demonstrates that the current formulation creates a declining penalty per unit of non-compliance as emissions increase, weakening marginal abatement incentives for higher-emitting vessels and encouraging strategic behaviour. For a heterogeneous fleet with a fixed aggregate non-compliance balance, the total penalty depends on how non-compliance is distributed across vessels: it is maximized when GHG intensities are equalised and minimized at a boundary solution with at most one vessel taking an interior value between the target and baseline intensities. This feature introduces distortions that are inconsistent with efficient and equitable policy outcomes. To address these issues, we propose a reformed penalty structure and provide analytical results supported by numerical examples. The revised design restores constant marginal incentives, improves fairness and transparency, and eliminates strategic distortions in compliance markets. The results highlight the importance of functional form in policy design for maritime decarbonization.”

 

The full article is accessible via:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2026.104333

For related publications please see Resources – UK National Clean Maritime Research Hub

“Abstract

Port cities are critical economic hubs but also major hotspots of environmental emissions. To quantify the associations among port proximity, pollution, and health burdens, we partitioned global land areas into 372,178 grid cells and calculated distances from 4436 port terminals to each grid cell for the period 2000–2022. We examine how port proximity relates to pollution indicators, how these patterns differ between port and non-port areas and across national income groups, and how they vary with urbanization and the composition of energy imports. The results show that areas in proximity to ports exhibit higher levels of greenhouse gases (CO₂ and CH₄) and harmful gaseous pollutants (SO₂, NO_x, and CO), as well as particulate pollution indicators such as PM_2.5. The strongest port related pollution gradient is concentrated within approximately 56 km of ports. The pollution burden near ports is more pronounced in low and middle income countries. Linking gridded pollution indicators with health estimates based on the Global Burden of Disease database suggests that port proximity strengthens the association between gaseous pollutants, such as CO₂, NO_x, and SO₂, and cause specific chronic disease mortality burdens, particularly respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes, while the association involving PM_2.5 is more spatially pervasive and varies less with port proximity. These findings support differentiated mitigation strategies to reduce pollution and advance cleaner and low-carbon port-city development.”

 

The full article is accessible via:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2026.107032

For related publications please see Resources – UK National Clean Maritime Research Hub