Posted on: 14 May 2020
£1.4m has been awarded to 10 organisations as part of the Clean Maritime Call, a Maritime Research and Innovation UK (MarRI-UK) initiative supported by the Department for Transport (DfT). The grants will help find innovative ways to develop technology to assist the UK’s transition to a future of zero emission shipping, a long term ambition of Government.
The strategic vision for the future of the maritime sector was set out by the Government in 2019, through the publication of Maritime 2050. This included a commitment drive a transition towards zero emission shipping. As a consequence, the Clean Maritime Plan was developed in line with the Environment Route Map of Maritime 2050.
To support the goal of zero emission shipping, the Clean Maritime Call was launched. Organisations from across the UK were able to apply for a grant to develop mid TRL (TRL 3-7) technology. 55 submissions were made, with an eventual 10 project proposals being selected for funding. The winners were selected by independent reviewers on various criteria including their strategic fit with Maritime 2050, value for money and environment impact.
The funding represents an important step towards achieving a zero-emission future for the UK. Through the collaborative development of technology, there is an opportunity to decarbonise the economy and share British expertise across the world.
MarRI-UK will continue to champion collaboration between companies, academia and Government. The co-ordination of research across the maritime sector, underpinned by Government initiatives and investment will support wider environmental ambitions linked in innovation.
Kelly Tolhurst, Maritime Minister, said: “I’m delighted to see the diverse nature and scale of ambition shown by the winners of the Clean Maritime Call.
“Our vision is for the UK to be a world leader in zero-emission shipping and we will continue to support innovative projects, such as these, that aim to make our air cleaner and create a healthy environment for generations to come.”
John Howie MBE, Chair of MarRI-UK, said: “We are pleased to announce the winners of the Clean Maritime Call. These projects will play an important role in supporting the British maritime sector’s vision of zero-emission shipping and the UK Government’s Maritime 2050 strategy.
“It was encouraging to see such a high quality and large volume of responses, which made it all the harder to choose only ten project winners. The quality and quantity of submissions is a testimony to the commitment to continued development and innovation across the Maritime sector.”
Harry Theochari, Chair of Maritime UK, said: “The current coronavirus crisis posed massive challenges for all parts of the economy, maritime included. It is vital that as we move to restart, recover, and then renew, we place green growth at the heart of our recovery plans.
“As one of Britain’s biggest industries, and with a unique responsibility for moving 95% of all our trade, greening maritime must be central to the meeting the government’s net-zero targets.
“It is therefore fantastic to see so many credible solutions to that mission being successful in this first funding call. It is incumbent on both industry and government to ensure that these ideas are now supported further and developed into viable solutions.”
