BusinessLDN Letter to Government on Supporting Cleaner Fuels for River Transport

BusinessLDN and our members are calling on the Government to amend the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) to better support low-carbon river transport on tidal waterways. While welcoming recent investment in clean maritime innovation, the letter highlights immediate opportunities to cut emissions by enabling wider use of transition fuels such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). Current rules exclude river operators from RTFO support, creating significant cost disadvantages compared to other public transport modes and risking a shift back to higher-emission fuels. The group also calls for action to reduce electricity costs for vessels, warning that without targeted support, progress towards full electrification and Net Zero could stall.