The Department for Transport has published a summary of responses to its Net Zero Ports: Challenges and Opportunities call for evidence, a consultative exercise launched alongside the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy in March 2025, sources indicated on 28 August 2026.
The summary sets out the material submitted to the department during the call for evidence, which sought input from stakeholders across the maritime and port sectors. The published note compiles those responses and is intended to inform further work on port decarbonisation measures.
The item carried comment from the UK Chamber of Shipping. Francesco Sandrelli, the chamber's Environment Policy Director, was reported as saying: "We welcome the Department for Transport’s recognition that ports and shipping are ...".
The call for evidence had been launched as part of the government's wider Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy in March 2025. That strategy set out the UK’s stated objectives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the maritime sector and positioned port infrastructure as a part of the national response.
A summary of responses is a common step in a consultative process of this kind; it provides a consolidated record of the views submitted and signals areas where the department may prioritise follow-up. The DfT’s note therefore represents a formal milestone in the engagement sequence begun by the 2025 strategy.
Stakeholder engagement and next steps
The document published on 28 August 2026 brings together the evidence and perspectives provided to the DfT during the call for evidence. Such summaries are typically used to identify recurring themes, data gaps and options for policy development, though the published summary itself does not constitute new regulation.
Industry bodies and port operators were among the groups invited to respond when the call for evidence opened alongside the March 2025 strategy. The UK Chamber of Shipping’s brief comment, as reported, welcomed the DfT’s recognition of the role of ports and shipping in the emissions agenda.
What the publication means for ports
For ports and related interests, the summary is likely to be read as an indication of where the department now has collated views and may focus further technical work. The DfT’s consolidation of responses provides a single document that sector participants can reference when assessing how their own positions were reflected in the consultation.
The report of 28 August 2026 records the publication and the chamber’s immediate reaction but does not set out detailed contents of the DfT’s summary in full. Readers seeking the primary text of the summary will need to consult the department’s own release for the complete record.
The exchange underlines the continuing interaction between government departments and maritime stakeholders as the UK pursues decarbonisation objectives set out in 2025. The DfT’s published summary and the chamber’s response together mark a step in an ongoing policy conversation rather than a final decision point.