The grant will allow the port to begin the Sea Change project, which will be completed in partnership with ferry operator Brittany Ferries.

Cruise ships and ferries visiting the port will be able to turn off their engines in port, plug in and use electricity to run their onboard systems, thanks to the shore power system.

Two new hybrid Brittany Ferries ships, which will begin sailing from Portsmouth in spring 2025, will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and electricity.

They will plug in to Portsmouth’s shore power system.

Portsmouth International Port has previously pledged to reduce the impact of operations on neighbouring communities and assist with the wider city’s ambition to reach carbon neutral by 2030.

It is estimated the shore power system will save more than 20,000 tonnes of CO2e per annum from 2027. This is the equivalent to the annual carbon footprint of around 2,500 UK households.

Learnings from the project will be shared with other UK ports, according to the port.

“This [project] will help the industry reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by or around 2050, a target declared by the International Maritime Organisation,” the port added.

Maritime minister Baroness Vere said: "The maritime sector’s drive towards a cleaner future goes hand in hand with the government’s plan to grow the economy and create new, well-paid jobs all over the UK.

“As a seafaring nation, it is in our national character to push nautical limits, and this funding will help to ensure the UK maintains its position at the leading edge of maritime innovation."