£60 million to boost clean maritime solutions

Efforts to develop clean maritime solutions have been boosted by new government funding aimed at decarbonising the maritime sector.

For the first time, the UK government is funding the development of new clean maritime technology across a two-year period. Companies in 12 regions around the UK will benefit from the cash, generating highly skilled jobs across the nation and positioning the UK as a world leader in green solutions.

Using technologies adapted from the worlds of high-performance yacht racing, motorsports and aerospace, Artemis Technologies in Belfast is developing vessels that effectively ‘fly’ above the water surface. The vessels produce zero emissions when foiling and offer energy savings of up to 90 per cent resulting in significantly lower operating and maintenance costs. Artemis Technologies will now use the funding to help take their invention to the seas on a commercial scale.

The £60m funding comes from the third round of the government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC3), which focuses on developing a range of clean maritime technologies including hydrogen, ammonia, electric and wind power.

During the two-year investment period, successful companies will be required to demonstrate that their projects will work in the real world, helping them to progress towards becoming an everyday reality.

Other winners include a project led by Collins River Enterprises to build and test a new fully electric ferry on the River Thames between Canary Wharf and Rotherhithe. This builds on research funded through the first round of the CMDC.

Another project led by AceOn Battery Solar Technology will develop hydrogen-powered vessels to transfer crew to wind farms off the northeast coast of England from the Port of Blyth.

WingTek are also receiving CMDC3 funding to develop and demonstrate two full-sized prototypes of wind-assisted ships with high tech sails. This will reduce the amount of fuel used by the vessels as well as the emissions they produce.

The new £60m funding comes from the wider £206 million UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) scheme, announced in March 2022.

The CMDC is one of the many initiatives from UK SHORE to fund green technology. The UK government has launched the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure competition to support projects in the latter stages of development and the clean maritime research hub. This is aimed at the early science and research behind green technology.

UK Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “Our maritime sector imports 95 per cent of goods into the UK and contributes £116 billion to our economy – more than both aviation and rail combined. With growing the economy one of the Government’s top priorities, we must continue our efforts to ensure the UK remains a pioneer in cutting-edge clean maritime solutions. The funding we’re awarding will help to do just that, bringing emission-free concepts to life and fuelling innovation.”

Sarah Treseder, CEO of the UK Chamber of Shipping, said: The UK Chamber of Shipping is committed to net zero by 2050. This funding is an important milestone in ensuring we continue to work together to achieve this important target and will help us complete the journey from theory to reality for zero emission shipping.”