BLOG – Simon Eardley, Head of Policy & Innovation at Mersey Maritime | April 2026
On 16 April 2026, maritime leaders, policymakers and innovators gathered at London’s QEII Centre for the UK Flag Forum – an event that showcased both the strength of the UK maritime sector today and the scale of ambition for its future. With a packed agenda spanning economic growth, innovation, decarbonisation and regulatory reform, the forum made one message clear: the UK is determined to remain a global maritime leader, but doing so will require bold thinking and coordinated action.
Setting the tone: maritime as a national priority
The day began with opening remarks and a ministerial keynote from Maritime Minister Keir Mather MP. The Minister’s message was unambiguous. Maritime is not just another sector; it underpins the whole UK economy and its global trade. As is often said, maritime facilitates around 90% of goods are transported by sea, making shipping fundamental to national prosperity.
Despite the clear economic importance of maritime, it is important to recognise that the UK cannot afford complacency. While demand to sail under the UK flag remains strong, modernisation is essential to maintain competitiveness. The government’s ambition was stated as being to position the UK as a “destination of choice” for ship owners while building a maritime sector that drives growth, innovation and sustainability.
Central to this vision is investment. Programmes such as UK SHORE, with phase two backed by £448 million of funding, signal a commitment to accelerating maritime decarbonisation and technological development.
Economic growth: a globally competitive sector with real potential
The first major panel discussion focused on economic growth and investment. It highlighted the UK maritime sector as both highly competitive and globally significant.
The UK is currently ranked among the top maritime nations, with approximately 800 vessels on the UK Ship Register and a global reputation underpinned by trusted legal frameworks through world leading and recognised English contract law. However, the conversation quickly turned to future challenges.
A recurring theme was investment certainty. Maritime assets are long-term by nature, often spanning 20 years or more. As a result, stability in government policy and regulation is essential to attract private capital. Panellists emphasised that where investment gaps exist – particularly in high-risk or emerging technologies – government may need to step in to de-risk innovation.
The discussion also raised an important question: does the UK fully recognise shipping as a strategic national asset? This question was linked to broader opportunities in key sub-sectors:
- Ports: With 310 ports across the UK but only around 10 currently equipped with shore power, there is significant potential for infrastructure upgrades to support decarbonisation.
- Cruise industry: Seen as a major growth opportunity in the post-pandemic era.
- Offshore energy: Identified as a critical pillar of both energy transition and security, particularly with large-scale projects such as Dogger Bank and thousands of offshore wind turbines in UK waters.
The panel also explored how the UK might learn from international competitors, such as Singapore’s flexible R&D funding approaches, and the importance of regional maritime clusters working together to present a more unified national offering – precisely what Mersey Maritime aims to deliver through its work!
Innovation moves centre stage
Innovation was a central theme throughout the forum, reinforced by the launch of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) Maritime Innovation Hub.
Unveiled during the morning sessions, the Hub is designed to bridge the gap between innovation and regulation, often a key barrier to progress in the maritime sector. Rather than acting as a funding body, the Hub will provide practical support, helping organisations navigate regulatory pathways and bring new technologies to market more quickly and safely. Its focus areas include:
- Autonomy
- Decarbonisation
- Digital systems
- Nuclear propulsion
A key message from the Hub presentation was the importance of early engagement with regulators. By involving the MCA in conversations at an early stage, innovators can avoid costly delays and ensure that new solutions are designed with compliance in mind from the outset.
Rethinking innovation: from fuel to efficiency
An innovation panel discussion followed which explored how the maritime sector must evolve to meet future challenges.
One of the most striking insights was that innovation shouldn’t just be about adopting new fuels, for example, – one of the ‘hottest topics within the industry today – it is about rethinking efficiency altogether.
Historically, shipping innovation focused on scale and speed. Today, the focus is shifting toward reducing fuel consumption in light of exposure to volatile energy prices. As one speaker put it: “the best fuel is the one you don’t burn.”
While alternative fuels such as ammonia, hydrogen and methanol were discussed, there was broad consensus that no single solution will dominate, for the time being at least. Instead, the industry will likely adopt a blended approach, combining multiple technologies depending on vessel type, route and operational requirements.
Speakers also emphasised the interconnection between safety, sustainability and efficiency, especially in a world shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, climate pressures and ongoing energy security concerns.
UK SHORE: from concept to deployment
The forum highlighted the progress made through the flagship Department for Transport UK SHORE programme, which has already supported hundreds of projects and organisations.
Since its inception, UK SHORE has:
- Backed 250 projects and 500 organisations
- Provided £206 million in public funding in phase 1, with £448 million more announced in Liverpool in September 2025
- Leveraged £120 million in private investment
The next phase aims to scale these efforts further, with the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition 7 and 2nd Zero Emission Vessels & Infrastructure competition live in spring 2026. The programme has deployed funding across all stages of technology readiness, from early-stage concepts to full deployment.
This lifecycle approach reflects a broader ambition: to ensure that promising ideas are not only developed in the UK but also commercialised and implemented here.
Innovation in practice: real-world examples
The afternoon sessions and showcases brought innovation to life with practical examples from across the industry.
Smart Green Shipping highlighted the role of wind-assisted propulsion and the importance of system-wide thinking. The UK has a long history of prioritising efficiency, and modern innovations are building on that legacy.
Ocean Infinity demonstrated advances in autonomous vessels, pointing to a future where digital and AI-driven systems transform maritime operations.
Meanwhile, the potential for civil nuclear propulsion emerged as one of the most ambitious – and perhaps controversial – topics of the day. The UK’s existing capabilities, including fuel production and reactor manufacturing, position it well to explore this opportunity at scale. A white paper on maritime nuclear is expected in autumn 2026, signalling growing momentum in this area.
Regulation: keeping pace with change
Across multiple sessions, the importance of regulation was a consistent theme.
The UK is widely regarded as offering consistency and credibility in regulatory application, which is a major advantage in attracting international business. However, participants acknowledged that regulation must evolve rapidly to keep pace with innovation. This is particularly important in emerging areas such as autonomy and alternative fuels, where uncertainty can slow investment and deployment.
The Maritime Innovation Hub is a direct response to this challenge, aiming to create a more agile and collaborative regulatory environment.
Building a cohesive maritime ecosystem
Another key theme was the need for greater coordination across the UK maritime ecosystem.
Regional clusters, public bodies and private sector organisations all play vital roles, but there is an opportunity to align efforts more effectively. By presenting a more cohesive national offer, the UK can strengthen its global position and attract investment more successfully.
This includes not only industry collaboration but also stronger links between innovation, policy and finance, ensuring that promising ideas can move quickly from concept to commercial reality.
Looking ahead: ambition meets opportunity
The UK Flag Forum closed with networking and engagement amongst the several hundred delegates present. Several key takeaways are prominent:
- The UK maritime sector is already a global leader, but must continue evolving to stay competitive
- Innovation – particularly in decarbonisation and digitalisation – will define the next era of growth – are we ready to embrace it?
- Government support, through programmes like UK SHORE and initiatives like the MCA Maritime Innovation Hub, will be critical
- Regulatory agility and clarity will be essential to unlock investment
- Collaboration across the ecosystem will determine how effectively opportunities are realised.
The challenges facing the maritime sector are significant, but so too are the opportunities. With the right combination of policy, investment and innovation, the UK is well positioned not only to respond to global change, but to lead it.
Find out more about the MCA Maritime Innovation Hub here: UK Maritime Innovation Hub | UK Ship Register
