Zero emission ferries and vessels are one step closer to being a reality, as Maritime Minister Robert Courts recently confirmed £12 million funding to accelerate the research and development of zero emission maritime technologies. The news will be welcomed by Marine insurance specialists in the UK, as it provides data for ESG reporting, plus shows which shipping lines are investing in modern low carbon tech.
Now in its second round, the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) was born out of the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan to tackle carbon emissions. The latest funding cements the UK’s position as world leaders in clean maritime technologies and supports the creation of thousands of skilled jobs across the UK.
The CMDC is one of the first initiatives from UK SHORE, a new unit launched to make the maritime sector greener. Dedicated to creating a world free from shipping emissions, UK SHORE will work with industry to tackle numerous shipping emission challenges.
Through research and development (R&D) investments, it will include the provision of domestic zero emission ferries, helping to tackle the approximately 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions that roll-on/roll-off vessels and passenger-only ferries contribute to the UK’s domestic shipping emissions.
INNOVATION
The Maritime Minister announced the funding for the competition in Portsmouth, the heartland of British shipping, as he met with some of the 55 winners from last year’s competition. At Portsmouth International Port, some of the previous winners showcased their projects.
One of the winners last year, MJR Controls, won funding to create wind turbine charge points for electrical vessels. Eight months on, it has created the charging ports and the installation will take place around late summer in Lynn and Inner Dowsing offshore wind farms.
Fulfilling the Clydebank Declaration agreed at COP26 to create green routes known as ‘green shipping corridors’ to and from the UK, this next round of the CMDC funding will include feasibility studies to help us work in partnership with industry to ultimately deliver green corridors both within the UK and internationally.
The £206 million research and development funding for UK SHORE, the biggest investment in maritime ever, was announced as part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy in March 2022. This investment will accelerate the sector’s transition to a cleaner future supporting our voyage to net zero by 2050.
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