Shoreham Port has partnered with a company to develop a hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) supply chain.

The partnership with Local Fuels has been made in an attempt to reduce emissions in the area.

For the past 12 months, Shoreham Part and Local Fuels has introduced HVO fuel in the port's cranes, forklift trucks, and marine vessels.

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This has resulted in "significant environmental benefits" such as saving over 600 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually.

Shoreham Port said it has now formed a new collaboration with Local Fuels to create a reliable and cost-effective HVO supply chain to increase these benefits.

This is because HVO is a fossil-free, drop-in replacement alternative for most modern diesel engines, resulting in a 80 to 90 per cent reduction of CO2 emissions.

Shoreham Port also said that the use of HVO improves air quality by reducing particulates, nitrogen oxide (NOx), and carbon monoxide emissions.

To help bring this HVO supply chain to life, Local Fuels are moving its entire tanker fleet to HVO and investing in port terminal infrastructure to enable bulk HVO storage.

Local Fuels is also providing HVO that has no links to palm oil or the palm oil production process to make sure it is a responsible and environmentally sustainable source.

Tom Willis, chief executive of Shoreham Port, said: "We are thrilled to partner with Local Fuels in integrating a new HVO supply chain into our port operations.

"This collaboration aligns with our ambitious decarbonisation goals and sets a precedent for sustainable fuel usage across Sussex and beyond."

Anthony Salvidge of Local Fuels said: "Our partnership with Shoreham Port represents a step towards reducing regional emissions and promoting sustainable fuel solutions.

"We are dedicated to supporting this initiative by converting our fleet and enhancing our storage capabilities.”

A spokesman for Shoreham Port said these joint efforts with Local Fuels are aiming to help meet broader aims of creating a Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plan which will reduce emissions across the Shoreham Port Industrial Cluster.