Southampton Itchen MP Darren Paffey is leading a major joint initiative with Southampton Test MP Satvir Kaur, Associated British Ports (ABP), Carnival UK, DP World, Red Funnel, Maritime Solent, the National Oceanography Centre and Southampton City Council to call for urgent Government action to deliver the power infrastructure needed to secure the future of the Port of Southampton.
In a joint letter to Ministers in the Department for Transport and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the group warns that a critical lack of grid capacity at the Nursling Grid Supply Point is now holding back essential decarbonisation projects, restricting port operations and blocking hundreds of millions of pounds of private investment.
The Port of Southampton, which handles £71 billion of UK trade annually and supports more than 45,000 jobs nationwide, has already taken major steps towards clean maritime growth. ABP has delivered the UK’s first commercial-scale cruise shore-power facility, yet because of grid constraints, only one ship at a time can plug in to the two available outlets, sharply limiting emissions reductions that could otherwise be achieved.
Across the port, operators have demonstrated their commitment to electrification and cleaner operations:
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Carnival UK has made 90% of its fleet shore-power capable.
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DP World Southampton is expanding low-carbon freight solutions and electrifying port operations.
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Red Funnel’s new investors are exploring options for fully electric vessels.
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The National Oceanography Centre is transitioning to hybrid and cleaner-fuel technologies.
However, all partners are facing the same barrier: insufficient grid capacity. Multiple shovel-ready projects, including expanded cruise shore-power, container terminal electrification, an electric fleet of shuttle carriers, and major infrastructure investment at Marchwood, are ready to begin as soon as the Government upgrades the Nursling supply point.
This initiative also directly delivers on commitments made locally and nationally.
At the General Election, Darren promised to work with partners to grow Southampton’s economy and protect the environment, and driving decarbonisation of port is central to that mission. In 2024, Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves visited the Port of Southampton to announce Labour’s commitment to invest in Britain’s ports as engines of national growth. This new joint initiative puts that commitment into action by ensuring the port has the power infrastructure it needs to lead the UK’s clean maritime transition.
As part of the initiative, the partnership has invited Ministers to:
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Visit the Port of Southampton to see first-hand the projects ready for delivery; and
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Join a full ministerial roundtable with industry, NESO, National Grid, Ofgem, and relevant government departments to agree immediate actions to unblock grid capacity and accelerate delivery.
The group is calling on the Government to:
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Bring forward the upgrade of the Nursling Grid Supply Point.
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Support flexible, earlier connection solutions while reinforcement is completed.
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Prioritise port electrification in national energy and regulatory frameworks.
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Strengthen cross-government coordination to remove delivery barriers.
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Ensure fair pricing and incentives for early adopters of shore power.
Darren Paffey MP said:
“Southampton has the partnerships, ambition and proven track record to lead Britain’s clean maritime future, but we now need the Government to unlock the grid capacity that will make it possible. This is about delivering cleaner air for our communities, supporting good jobs, and driving the economic growth our city deserves.”
ENDS