“We aim to establish green shipping corridors between our shores.” With that line, the UK and Belgium set out a practical plan on 12 December to tighten North Sea security, step up energy links and get ports on both sides working more closely. For readers from the Humber to Teesside, this is not abstract diplomacy-it points to real routes, real cables and real jobs. The joint statement came via the Prime Minister’s Office and is grounded in the EU–UK Renewed Agenda agreed in May.

Security comes first. The statement commits both countries to protecting critical North Sea infrastructure-cables, pipelines and wind arrays-taking forward the new NorthSeal platform for rapid information-sharing and response. NorthSeal has been operational since mid‑January, backed by six North Sea nations and supported by NATO.

The UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force has already switched on a reaction system to track risks to seabed assets-useful for the tangle of power and data lines that run off our coast. Expect more joint patrols and data‑sharing with Belgian counterparts as part of that effort.

Energy is the other big strand. Nemo Link-the 1 GW power cable between Belgium and Kent-has run with world‑class reliability and has shifted nearly 30 TWh since 2019, smoothing prices and backing up supply. Nautilus, a proposed hybrid link with Elia and National Grid Ventures, has moved into advanced development and would plug offshore wind straight into both grids.

All of that matters to the Humber. The government has already granted development consent for the Immingham Green Energy Terminal, designed to import ammonia and produce green hydrogen for distribution inland-exactly the sort of project the UK–Belgium plan says it wants to back with cross‑border hydrogen work.

Carbon capture and storage is in scope too. London Protocol rules now allow cross‑border CO₂ movements for permanent storage, and London and Brussels want a bilateral arrangement in place by the first half of 2026. On the ground here, the Northern Endurance Partnership is consulting on the Humber CO₂ pipeline until 17 December, linking local emitters to offshore storage.

Ports are central to trade today and decarbonisation tomorrow. DFDS maintains a Zeebrugge–Immingham service and CLdN is investing in greener kit and extra capacity at Killingholme to handle growing North Sea flows-useful foundations for any future green corridor with Belgium. On Teesside, CLdN has been expanding its Zeebrugge–Teesport route after P&O stepped away.

Grimsby’s offshore wind story shows why this partnership matters. Ørsted now employs around 700 people across its East Coast operations, and the firm calls Grimsby “one of the most important offshore wind hubs in the world.” Keeping North Sea infrastructure safe and power flowing reliably underpins those jobs. In 2024, offshore wind supplied a record slice of UK electricity.

Further north, Aberdeen’s new South Harbour gives Scotland deep‑water capacity for heavy lift, offshore wind components and larger vessels. Completed in 2023, the £420 million build is already pulling in work that would previously have bypassed the city-another reason why seabed security and smooth cross‑Channel energy flows matter to northern ports and supply chains.

Crime and safety get a full chapter in the deal. London and Brussels say they will reinforce port security, push data‑sharing via Europol, Interpol and the Prüm framework, and finalise a new Law Enforcement Cooperation Agreement in 2026-relevant for east coast freight gateways handling high‑value cargoes.

The statement also leans into research and health security. The UK is again a full participant in Horizon Europe, opening up joint bids across life sciences, AI and semiconductors. It also references the EU Critical Medicines Alliance, launched in 2024 to tackle shortages and strengthen supply-an agenda that fits well with northern pharma and med‑tech clusters.

Economic ties are a thread throughout. The two governments want fewer trade frictions, simpler customs for SMEs and better business mobility under the Renewed Agenda-practical wins for firms that shuttle between the Humber, the Tees and the Belgian gateways of Antwerp‑Bruges and Zeebrugge.

At sea, both countries sit on the IMO Council for 2026–27, and say they will drive priorities on safety, security and decarbonisation. With Antwerp‑Bruges already trialling alternative‑fuel tugs and pushing maritime innovation, and UK ministers funding clean‑shipping work, there’s space for a UK–Belgium green corridor that includes east coast ports.

What to watch next: the 2026 CO₂ transport arrangement; Nautilus milestones; the law‑enforcement pact; and practical corridor pilots that could link Zeebrugge with Immingham, Killingholme or Teesport. For businesses across the North, it’s time to talk to port operators, check bidding windows under Horizon and clean‑shipping funds, and have a say before the Humber CO₂ consultation closes on 17 December.