The average carbon footprint of cargo ships operating within the United Kingdom varies greatly by type. In 2024, large RoPax ferries, or cruise ships, had the largest emissions per metric ton of goods shipped per kilometer, at 376.12 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e). In comparison, bulk carriers emitted 3.54 grams of CO₂e per metric ton of goods shipped per kilometer.
Emissions at UK ports
The south coast city of Southampton is home to the most polluting port in the UK. The Port of Southampton’s maritime supply chain emissions amounted to roughly 1.6 million metric tons of CO₂ (MtCO₂) in 2018 (the most recent available data). That same year, the UK had the fourth-largest maritime supply chain emissions in Europe. This was mainly due to the UK being an island nation with a large number of ports.
UK GHG emissions from shipping
UK greenhouse gas emissions from shipping amounted to almost 12 MtCO₂e in 2022. Around 45 percent of this total was produced from domestic shipping. Annual domestic shipping emissions in the UK have decreased by almost 40 percent since 1990. Shipping accounts for roughly five percent of UK transportation emissions.
Average carbon footprint of cargo ships in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2024, by type
(in grams of CO₂e per metric ton of goods shipped per kilometer)
Characteristic
Emissions in g CO₂e per metric ton of goods shipped per km
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GOV.UK. (July 8, 2024). Average carbon footprint of cargo ships in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2024, by type (in grams of CO₂e per metric ton of goods shipped per kilometer) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 30, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233482/carbon-footprint-of-cargo-ships-by-type-uk/
GOV.UK. "Average carbon footprint of cargo ships in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2024, by type (in grams of CO₂e per metric ton of goods shipped per kilometer)." Chart. July 8, 2024. Statista. Accessed December 30, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233482/carbon-footprint-of-cargo-ships-by-type-uk/
GOV.UK. (2024). Average carbon footprint of cargo ships in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2024, by type (in grams of CO₂e per metric ton of goods shipped per kilometer). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 30, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233482/carbon-footprint-of-cargo-ships-by-type-uk/
GOV.UK. "Average Carbon Footprint of Cargo Ships in The United Kingdom (Uk) in 2024, by Type (in Grams of Co₂e per Metric Ton of Goods Shipped per Kilometer)." Statista, Statista Inc., 8 Jul 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233482/carbon-footprint-of-cargo-ships-by-type-uk/
GOV.UK, Average carbon footprint of cargo ships in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2024, by type (in grams of CO₂e per metric ton of goods shipped per kilometer) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233482/carbon-footprint-of-cargo-ships-by-type-uk/ (last visited December 30, 2024)
Average carbon footprint of cargo ships in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2024, by type (in grams of CO₂e per metric ton of goods shipped per kilometer) [Graph], GOV.UK, July 8, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233482/carbon-footprint-of-cargo-ships-by-type-uk/
