Project Summary

The project includes the construction of a new jetty and associated marine operation to enable the transport of captured carbon dioxide as Liquid CO₂ to an offshore subsea storage site. Once operational, the facility is expected to capture approximately 1.4 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, making a significant contribution to the UK’s decarbonisation goals and supporting the broader transition to offshore wind power and low-carbon energy systems.

To ensure navigational safety and operational feasibility, NASH Maritime was commissioned by WSP to provide maritime consultancy and deliver a comprehensive Navigation Risk Assessment (NRA) during the pre-consent phase.

Project Context

The Cory Decarbonisation Project is a Project of National Significance development. The project’s marine component, particularly the new jetty, required careful planning to ensure compatibility with existing vessel traffic and future maritime operations in the Thames Estuary.

NASH Maritime’s role was to assess the navigational implications of the proposed infrastructure and ensure that the design and operation of the jetty would not adversely impact other port users.

Key Stats

• CO₂ capture target: ~1.4 million tonnes per year.
• Location: Belvedere, South East London.
• Consent application submitted: April 2024 .
• DCO decision expected: November 2025.

Project Challenges

The project required a detailed understanding of the navigational environment in a busy and complex section of the Thames. Key challenges included:

• Siting the new jetty in a location that minimised disruption to existing vessel traffic , including Cory’s existing marine operations.
•  Ensuring safe berthing and mooring of CO₂ tankers.
•  Managing interactions with passing vessels and other port operations.
• Aligning the NRA with the Port of London Authority’s (PLA) risk assessment methodology.
• These challenges were compounded by the need to future-proof the infrastructure for evolving maritime demands.

Solution

NASH Maritime delivered a robust suite of services to support the project’s development consent application:

• Conducted a siting review of jetty options from a navigational safety perspective.
• Performed a navigation impact assessment to inform jetty concept design and marine logistics.
• Delivered ship bridge simulationsusing a range of tanker design vessels to test berthing scenarios and assess impacts on passing traffic.
• Facilitated stakeholder engagement with local maritime users and authorities.
• Carried out mooring analysis to evaluate vessel interaction and inform detailed design.
• Developed passage plans for new vessel operations.
• Prepared a full in accordance with PLA methodology.

These efforts ensured that the proposed marine infrastructure met the highest standards of safety, operational efficiency, and environmental responsibility.

Additional Support

NASH Maritime continued to support the Cory project team as the development progressed through the planning and design phases. The team’s expertise in maritime and port authority engagement, risk modelling, and marine operations is helping to ensure the project’s long-term success and alignment with the UK’s offshore wind energy and decarbonisation strategies.