From 1 September 2025, hauliers using DP World’s London Gateway and Southampton ports will be able to take part in a 28-month trial offering reduced-price access to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel.
Under the scheme, HGV fleet operators can claim up to 5,000 litres of HVO for the price of diesel for each truck completing at least 90 Vehicle Booking System (VBS) entries at a single port within a three-month qualifying period. The allocation is capped at a maximum of 10 vehicles, or 50,000 litres, per Group of Companies per port.
Eligibility is restricted to laden import and export bookings through the VBS. Visits cannot be combined across both ports, although firms may qualify separately at London Gateway and Southampton.
Participating companies will also be required to attend a free eight-hour carbon literacy workshop focused on emissions, reporting and decarbonisation strategies in road freight and logistics.
DP World confirmed that after each qualifying period operators will be informed of the allocation earned, with their chosen fuel supplier then arranging supply under a separate contract. Companies will also be notified if vehicles narrowly miss the 90-booking threshold.
The programme’s first qualification window runs from September to November 2025, with fuel available from January 2026. Subsequent periods follow a rolling quarterly schedule through to late 2027.
HVO, a renewable diesel alternative approved by a range of manufacturers, can be used in existing diesel engines without modification. Its uptake has been increasing in the UK transport sector as operators seek interim measures to reduce carbon emissions ahead of wider electrification.
