UK government commits £206m to green maritime technology

‘We are building a green maritime legacy for generations to come,’ said Robert Courts, the UK government's under-secretary of state, Department for Transport (DfT) today from Southampton port. ‘This is the biggest single investment in green shipping in the past hundred years, and is a further demonstration that the government is committed to working with the sector to develop the green shipping technologies of tomorrow.’

UK SHORE

A department committed to green maritime technology has also been established – the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) will implement the comprehensive R&D programme, including a multi-year clean maritime demonstration competition and work in partnership with the industry to tackle supply and demand issues with ship building and help build greener vessels, including cruise ships.

Housed in the Department for Transport (DfT) UK SHORE will also help to develop the infrastructure needed to support zero emission technologies and power future vessels, focussing on hydrogen-, electric- and ammonia power.

‘I want UK SHORE to take the industry back to the future,’ noted the UK government's transport secretary Grant Shapps, ‘The age of the sail was the first green maritime age; new technology will bring us to a second green age… and as we turn the tide for green shipping, I can’t wait to see thousands of new jobs created around the country too – from masterful shipbuilding to the high-tech sailors of tomorrow.’

CMDC competition

The UK’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) which launched last year year, will be extended with details on funding being revealed in the coming months. It will be open to a range of UK innovators – from small businesses to universities.

Maritime UK CEO Ben Murray, stated, ‘The establishment of UK SHORE, and extension of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, can enable us to create the innovative green solutions at home, and in turn, export these across the world. This will create new jobs across our coastal communities, helping them realize their potential of becoming green engines for economic growth.

‘Maritime UK and its members will be working more closely than ever with the government to ensure these ambitions are met.’

The measures come as the UK government continues to implement its Transport Decarbonisation Plan.