Zero emission ferries and vessels are one step closer to being a reality as the Maritime Minister, Robert Courts MP, has today confirmed £12 million of funding to accelerate the research and development of zero emission maritime technologies. The second round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) will see the latest funding help cement the UK’s position as world leaders in clean maritime technologies and will support the creation of thousands of skilled jobs across the UK. And for the Liverpool City Region and Mersey Maritime members the opportunity to maximise engagement in this work is second to none.
Commenting, Chief Executive of Mersey Maritime, Chris Shirling-Rooke, said:
“Mersey Maritime welcomes this multimillion announcement for innovative projects to help stop vessels polluting our seas – we know this is the biggest challenge of our time for the industry just now. Mersey Maritime members, including Bibby Marine and Expleo, benefited from the first round of CMDC funding and we are excited to see what this latest round will offer for our members. It is precisely why we have invested in our own dedicated maritime innovation support via Dr Matt Fulton and the ‘Innovating Maritime’ programme we embarked on at the start of 2022.
“The appetite demonstrated in the first round was huge and this second round has been designed to support a shipping future that uses the most creative and innovative ways for people and goods to sail in cleaner and greener ways. We are keen to play our part in ensuring our industry here in this region gets the most out of this opportunity. It is vital for our businesses to turbo-charge their ideas into practical reality to accelerate the sector’s transition to a cleaner future supporting our voyage to net zero by 2050.
“The establishment of UK SHORE, which has been created to decarbonise the maritime sector, is a key vehicle in the UK’s voyage to net zero. This first intervention is significant. Extending the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition shows a clear direction of travel and we have to be part of that in the Liverpool City Region. Mersey Maritime will help ensure it is.”
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.
Mersey Maritime members should contact Dr Matt Fulton, Chief Innovation Officer, at Mersey Maritime if they wish to discuss innovation related opportunities further: matt.fulton@merseymaritime.co.uk
