UK injects £77 million into maritime decarbonisation

The UK government has kicked off a multi-million-pound Zero

country’s maritime sector.

The ZEVI competition, launched on 6 February, will see £77 million ($92.87

million) invested into clean maritime technology.

It will also see innovative companies apply for the funding, which must be

used to decarbonise technology both on board and shoreside.

The funding will take the tech from the factory to the sea through

identifying which projects will have a long-term impact in reducing

emissions.

The government requires that the successful projects show that they could

use this money to work with major UK ports and operators to launch a

zero-emission vessel by 2025.

Examples of such technology include battery electric vessels, shoreside

electrical power, ships running on low carbon fuels like hydrogen or ammonia,

and wind-assisted ferries.

UK waters are expected to see zero-emission ferries, cruises, and cargo

ships within two years.

“Our funding will support a cleaner freight system, a more environmentally

friendly tourism industry, and a net-zero maritime sector,” said UK’s Transport

Secretary, Mark Harper.

According to Defence Secretary and Shipbuilding Tsar, Ben Wallace, this

competition will be overseen by Innovate UK, which has a successful record of

delivering similar competitions across government.

Innovate UK, Executive Director for Net Zero, Mike Biddle, said: “Innovate

UK will work closely with the Department for Transport in delivering the Zero

Emission Vessel and Infrastructure competition, resulting in multi-year real

world demonstrations of clean maritime technologies around the UK.”

The government is also calling on universities across the UK to join forces

to establish a new Clean Maritime Research Hub, with £7.4 million ($8.94

million) funding from government and additional funding from academia and

industry.

Research in the fundamental science behind clean maritime technologies will

be delivered by the hub, building evidence and expertise for the maritime

sector.

It will also support skills development across the industry and generate

knowledge for maritime decision-makers, according to the government.

The ZEVI fund and Clean Maritime Research Hub are part of the UK SHORE

programme, launched in March 2022 with £206 million ($248.6 million) in

funding.

UK SHORE aims to tackle shipping emissions and advance the UK towards a

sustainable shipping future.

The hub will be delivered in partnership with and co-funded by the

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research

and Innovation (UKRI).

This investment has come almost half a year after the UK government

launched a five-year maritime strategy focussing on enhanced seabed mapping and

tackling security threats.