Plymouth City Council, Millbay Docks, and Brittany Ferries have forged a promising partnership, marked by the signing of a momentous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This strategic alliance aims to propel the docks towards growth while embracing a net-zero future.
The signing ceremony, which took place last week, witnessed the signatures of key stakeholders, including Councillor Tudor Evans, the esteemed Leader of Plymouth City Council, Christophe Mathieu, the dynamic Chief Executive of Brittany Ferries, and Henrik Pedersen, the enterprising Chief Executive of Associated British Ports (ABP). United by a common vision, these partners are committed to fostering a future of sustainable expansion and investing in the development of Millbay Docks’ facilities.
Owned and operated by ABP, Millbay Docks sprawls over 50 acres of port estate and serves as a vital hub for Brittany Ferries, facilitating critical connections between the South West of England and France, as well as Spain. With an annual handling capacity of 400,000 passengers, 150,000 vehicles, and a staggering 80,000 tonnes of cargo, the docks are primed to serve both established European trade routes and the burgeoning cruise market.
The MoU outlines an ambitious roadmap for collaboration, with a steadfast focus on multiple fronts:
- Net Zero Ambition: A shared aspiration to achieve net-zero status for Millbay Docks by 2030, thereby stimulating the creation of new eco-friendly jobs and investments.
- Capital Project Optimization: Maximizing the impact of upcoming capital projects, including enhancements to passenger access and freight logistics.
- Green Vessel Operations: Identifying funding opportunities to invest in shore power infrastructure, a move aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from visiting vessels.
- Freight Evolution: Unlocking the potential of Millbay Docks’ role within the Freeport, accentuating the significance of trade links between the UK, France, and Spain.
- Tourism and Cruise Expansion: Collaborating with Destination Plymouth and regional bodies to amplify inbound tourism and cruise activities.
Council leader Tudor Evans OBE expressed, “Port cities like Plymouth hold a strategic advantage in the pursuit of net-zero goals. Maritime transport remains one of the cleanest methods of moving goods. Millbay Docks possesses immense potential to become a pivotal player in the realm of freight opportunities, particularly within our Freeport framework.”
Henrik Pedersen, Chief Executive of ABP, underscored the importance of partnerships for realizing a net-zero future, stating, “To make Net Zero a reality, a collaborative approach is essential. We’re thrilled to collaborate with Plymouth City Council and Brittany Ferries in propelling greener growth for Millbay Docks and the broader Plymouth region.”
This landmark collaboration follows ABP’s February launch of their comprehensive sustainability strategy, ‘Ready for Tomorrow’ (RFT), a visionary roadmap to channel approximately £2 billion towards decarbonizing their operations by 2040. RFT spotlights five pivotal areas of focus: Net Zero, air quality, biodiversity, waste management, and water conservation.
