The multimodal UK freight and logistics sector delivers reliable, resilient and efficient movement of goods to support UK business and the consumer. The government recognised the importance of the sector in our Industrial Strategy (2025). We have recently committed £27 billion through the third Road Investment Strategy (2026-2031), including enhancements to the A66 between Penrith and Scotch Corner benefiting east-west freight across the Pennines, including from North and Irish Sea ports, and the Lower Thames Crossing which will improve journey reliability for freight arriving from the EU, including goods using the “land bridge” to Northern Ireland.

On rail the TransPennine Route Upgrade and East West Rail will bring significant freight efficiency benefits and the Railways Bill includes a duty on Great British Railways, ministers and the Office of Road and Rail to promote rail freight. The draft National Planning Policy Framework (published Dec 2025) requires local planning authorities to give “substantial weight” to the economic benefits of proposals for development where this would support improvements in freight and logistics. At a more granular level we are working with the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum to maintain efficient freight flows via the Short Straits through the development of plans to manage the introduction of new import controls and the implementation of EES at the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel.

The Government does not maintain, and does not plan to publish, a single consolidated list of all applicable legislative and statutory requirements. Doing so would be disproportionate and would duplicate information already available through legislation.gov.uk.

Ports are essential to economic growth for the United Kingdom as a trading nation, over 85% of whose international trade moves by sea. They are instrumental in promoting the skills necessary for modern logistics, with support from the sector's Port Skills & Safety body. They generate and sustain employment directly and indirectly, on-port and in their hinterland, with a high proportion of workers resident in coastal communities.

Ports rely on resilient, reliable connections and Government plays an important role in bettering these connections to drive economic growth. In March 2026, the Government announced over £27 billion of investment in the Strategic Road Network through the third Road Investment Strategy, this includes a further £1.66 billion to deliver the publicly-funded works on the Lower Thames Crossing, which will provide a significant boost to the UK economy, strengthening connectivity across the UK and to major ports.

Government is aware of the importance of efficient road and rail connections to enable ports to be effective gateways for trade and handle increasing volumes of freight. The Government is delivering major projects to provide a step change in port connectivity, with the Lower Thames Crossing in the South and Trans Pennine Route Upgrade in the North. In March 2026, the Government announced over £27 billion of investment in the Strategic Road Network through the third Road Investment Strategy, which includes a new performance metric for National Highways to reduce delays on gateway routes. In addition, Great British Railways will work to improve rail access with an overall target of a 75% increase in rail freight moved by 2050.

The Government is aware of capacity constraints on the transport infrastructure connecting ports in the Thames region and is working to improve them. This includes delivering the Lower Thames Crossing, the most significant road building project in a generation. The new crossing will reduce congestion at Dartford, better linking up motorists and businesses in the Midlands and North with key ports in the South East, and spreading growth throughout the regions. In addition, Network Rail is delivering feasibility studies on level crossing mitigations at East Tilbury, Rainham, and Grays, as well as progressing a business case development on cross-London lines, recognising the existing capacity challenges in the region.

Government is aware of the importance of efficient road and rail connections to enable ports to be effective gateways for trade and handle increasing volumes of freight. The Government is delivering major projects to provide a step change in port connectivity, with the Lower Thames Crossing in the South and Trans Pennine Route Upgrade in the North. In March 2026, the Government announced over £27 billion of investment in the Strategic Road Network through the third Road Investment Strategy, which includes a new performance metric for National Highways to reduce delays on gateway routes. In addition, Great British Railways will work to improve rail access with an overall target of a 75% increase in rail freight moved by 2050.

Through the Home Defence Programme, the Government is implementing an additional layer of defence, security and resilience planning to ensure close alignment of military and civilian effort.

The Department for Transport is working with the Ministry of Defence, wider Government and industry partners to review port resilience and increase civilian-military dual use of the transport system where appropriate.

We work closely across government to strengthen our resilience and the overall ports sector. The government supports and enables investment through a strong policy and regulatory framework, while also working in partnership with industry and providing additional investment where there are clear public benefits. For example, through the National Wealth Fund the Government has committed at least £5.8 billion across five priority sectors, including ports, with a £300 million investment in Associated British Ports to support major infrastructure upgrades announced on 3 June.

The Government continues to identify potential opportunities to enhance military mobility and resilience across the entire transport sector. This has already led to partnerships with the transport sector, for example a recent military move utilised commercial ports and transport providers to outload troops from the UK.

MMO and DfT are currently progressing a draft consultation and associated documents to consult with the sector in the summer 2026. In parallel stakeholder engagement will be undertaken and work will be completed to draft the appropriate regulation with a view to implementing a new structure during 2027.

We will publish our findings later this year.

The implementation of the EU’s Entry-Exit System at the juxtaposed portals is the responsibility of the French government and the UK government has worked closely with the border authorities to understand their rollout plans and resourcing.

The Department for Transport is also working closely with the UK juxtaposed portals (Port of Dover, Eurotunnel and Eurostar St Pancras) and the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum (KMRF) to prepare for full implementation of the EU Entry Exit System. As in the case during any peak travel period, the KMRF has assessed expected travel volumes and the necessary traffic management resources have been made available.

Ministers and officials within the department have engaged with their Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) counterparts on ensuring that ports in Great Britain can access the energy they need, including to enable ferry electrification.

The Government is taking action to reform the grid connections process, as well as working with Ofgem to incentivise network companies to invest strategically ahead of need. This will ensure that planning for future grid capacity better reflects the emerging demands from electrifying sectors, including the ferry sector.

In addition, my department is working with DESNZ and the energy sector on ways to accelerate connection dates for strategic demand customers, which includes critical port sites, to ensure access to grid connections are not a blocker to growth and decarbonisation.

The Government is taking action to reform the grid connections process to ensure that ports can access the large-scale grid upgrades that they need.

Alongside that, through the measures set out in the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy and our work at the International Maritime Organization, we are creating the right investment environment to unlock private sector funding for maritime decarbonisation that can also cover the cost of grid upgrades.

Last year we ran a call for evidence on ports’ energy needs to inform our future maritime emissions policy. A response will be published later this year.

In 2016, a total of 28.4 million tonnes of goods were imported into the UK through British ports carried by HGVs. Of the 28.4 million tonnes, (a) 4.0 million tonnes (14 percent) were carried by UK-registered HGVs and (b) 24.4 million tonnes (86 percent) by non-UK registered HGVs.

In 2024, the latest year for which data is available, a total of 21.1 million tonnes of goods were imported into the UK through British ports carried by HGVs. Of the 21.1 million tonnes, (a) 3.2 million tonnes (15 percent) were carried by UK-registered HGVs and (b) 17.9 million tonnes (85 percent) by non-UK registered HGVs.

In 2016, a total of 28.4 million tonnes of goods were imported into the UK through British ports carried by HGVs. Of the 28.4 million tonnes, (a) 4.0 million tonnes (14 percent) were carried by UK-registered HGVs and (b) 24.4 million tonnes (86 percent) by non-UK registered HGVs.

In 2024, the latest year for which data is available, a total of 21.1 million tonnes of goods were imported into the UK through British ports carried by HGVs. Of the 21.1 million tonnes, (a) 3.2 million tonnes (15 percent) were carried by UK-registered HGVs and (b) 17.9 million tonnes (85 percent) by non-UK registered HGVs.

The Government is taking action to reform the grid connections process to ensure port infrastructure, such as shore power, can access the energy they need for maritime.

In addition, the Government is currently considering policy options to accelerate connection dates for strategic demand customers, such as critical port sites, to ensure access to grid connections are not a blocker to growth and decarbonisation.

We also ran a Call for Evidence about ports’ energy needs to inform future maritime emissions policy, a summary of which will be published later this year.

We received 65 responses to the Net Zero Ports call for evidence, and plan to set out the findings later this year. These valuable stakeholder insights will shape our policy approach to the role of ports in maritime decarbonisation.

The United Kingdom has a world leading maritime sector, including its ports. The ports sector is largely privatised, so government direct intervention is limited. Whilst there are some government bodies who do direct day to day work within ports, matters that fall within the DfT’s jurisdiction are ones concerned with safety.

The department does have a range of grant programs designed to support the wider UK ports sector, with these programs aimed at supporting the transition to a green economy and at modal shift towards rail and water. We are working with other Departments to strengthen and streamline planning, including by updating the National Policy Statement for Ports.

Whilst the UK Cruise Growth Plan is focused on boosting the cruise industry’s economic impact, it sits alongside the Government’s Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy, through which we will work together with the cruise industry on shared ambitions and policy development.