In September 2023, the UK government set the path for all new cars to have zero emissions by 2035. A common question we receive is how this affects marine craft—the simple answer is that it does not apply directly to marine craft as this sector has different strategic targets.

How Does This Affect Marine Craft?

In 2018, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed on its initial strategy for reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs) from ships, committing the global maritime sector to reducing GHG emissions from shipping by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 levels.

In January 2019, the UK government published Maritime 2050, a strategic vision for a clean maritime sector in the UK. In support of this strategy, the Government published the Clean Maritime Plan, setting out Clean Maritime Plan Ambitions for the UK. These zero-emissions shipping ambitions are intended to provide aspirational goals for the sector rather than mandatory targets.

Hybrid Marine’s Interpretation & Response

To reach the vision for 2050, the UK Government set out key expectations for 2025 and 2035:

Expectations for 2025

• All vessels operating in UK waters maximize energy efficiency options.
• All new vessels ordered for use in UK waters are designed with zero-emission propulsion capability.
• Zero-emission commercial vessels operate in UK waters.
• The UK builds clean maritime clusters focused on innovation and infrastructure associated with zero-emission propulsion technologies.

Expectations for 2035

• The UK establishes clean maritime clusters combining infrastructure and innovation for zero-emission propulsion technologies.
• Low or zero-emission marine fuel bunkering options are readily available across the UK.

Our hybrid systems are ideally positioned to take advantage of infrastructure improvements. As more charging points become available across the network, a larger part of a craft’s operating cycle can be run directly from zero-carbon electrical resources.

Electrification vs. Alternative Fuels

The Clean Maritime Plan (Section 3.67) notes that electricity is estimated to play a smaller role than alternative fuels for larger vessels, with pure electric propulsion limited to vessels operating short voyages, such as short ferry crossings.

The UK government does not view pure electrification as a blanket solution for marine craft in the same way as road vehicles. Engines will still be employed, with alternative fuels seen as a key pathway forward. The Hybrid Marine propulsion system can operate for extended periods in electric drive where recharging facilities exist, and can be mated to a conventional or alternative-fuel engine as they become available. We have already supplied hybrid systems running on 100% bio-diesel.

Pure Electric vs. Parallel Hybrid Propulsion

While pure electric propulsion is technically achievable, several limiting factors remain:

• Infrastructure: The recharging infrastructure required to support pure electric craft across the UK inland waterways network is limited and expensive to deploy.
• Power & Range: Replacing a diesel engine with an equivalent power motor can be costly. A 10hp motor is equivalent to a 10hp diesel engine, which is unsuitable for navigating adverse conditions or heavy river currents.
• The Parallel Solution: The Hybrid Marine Parallel system provides the ideal solution. It utilizes any charging infrastructure available without being restricted by it, delivering the full range and power of a conventionally powered vessel with zero-emission cruising when desired.

Conclusion

Although the Clean Maritime Plan contains no current legislative compulsion, it provides a strong indication of future regulatory direction. European cities are already implementing zero-emission zones for urban waterways (such as Amsterdam), and UK waterways are expected to follow similar initiatives.

The Hybrid Marine Parallel system satisfies all requirements for zero-emission zones, future-proofing vessel owners against currently proposed environmental legislation.