The world's first 'green shipping corridors' are set for creation, including one from Holyhead to Dublin.

The corridors, designed for zero-emission vessels, form part of a £9 million initiative aiming to decarbonise the shipping industry and boost green employment.

The project is part of a broader effort to establish a more sustainable, environmentally friendly maritime sector.

Maritime Minister Mike Kane announced the new initiative, which will see Holyhead and other ports, such as the Port of Tyne, develop future routes exclusively for zero-emission vessels.

The corridors will connect the UK with major European cities, including Oslo, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam.

Mr Kane said: "Shipping is a big contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, so these new green corridors could be a real game changer for industry.

"This is exactly the direction we need to be going in to achieve our mission of becoming a Clean Energy Superpower.

"These new corridors could turbocharge the use of sustainable fuels, secure the green jobs of the future and advance environmentally friendly travel to major European capitals like Amsterdam and Dublin."

The government funding for these corridors is part of the fifth round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC5), which focuses on developing innovative solutions and new technologies to decarbonise the industry.

This move aligns with the UK’s commitment to the Clydebank Declaration at COP26, which initiated the development of Green Corridors.

The initiative hopes to revolutionise the shipping industry if the world's biggest shipping companies adopt these greener routes.

In addition to the green corridors, the government has announced up to £8 million of match funding for 30 projects across the UK to develop smart technologies, including autonomous systems, AI, robotics, and sensors.

These technologies aim to position the UK as a world leader in maritime decarbonisation.

Mike Biddle, executive director for Net Zero at Innovate UK, said: "Like so many industries, the maritime sector is under immense pressure to decarbonise its transport and process methods.

"With this year’s round of competitions delivering a host of exciting prospective technologies, from smart shipping drones to methanol-fuelled vessels, UK SHORE looks to accelerate the adoption of these sustainable solutions and help the UK drive towards its Net Zero targets."

This latest round of funding is part of the £206 million UK SHORE programme, which focuses on decarbonising the UK maritime sector through technological innovation.