£80m boost for coastal communities and green shipping as London International Shipping Week gets underway
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Government backs innovative companies in coastal communities from
Orkney to Portsmouth with £80m of R&D funding to boost clean
tech and create jobs Comes at the start of London International
Shipping Week, focussing on clean maritime and artificial
intelligence to grow the UK’s maritime economy Part of the Prime
Minister’s plan to grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and
opportunity right across the UK Coastal communities across the
country are set...Request free trial
Coastal communities across the country are set to benefit from over £80 million of government funding as the winners of the Zero Emission Vessel and Infrastructure fund (ZEVI) are announced - supporting economic growth and boosting the UK’s decarbonisation efforts. Announced at the start of London International Shipping Week - bringing together the world leaders in the maritime sector - the projects showcase the benefits maritime technology can bring to communities from Orkney to Portsmouth. Whether it’s Artemis Technologies who are demonstrating inter-island electric ferries, helping boost regional connectivity and economic opportunity, or Tidal Transit Ltd who are electrifying a crew transfer vessel for offshore wind farms and enabling greener sustainable energy, today’s winners have a crucial role to play in cleaning up the sector’s reliance on fossil fuels. Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “London International Shipping week is the perfect time to showcase the work we're doing to generate maritime jobs across the country and develop new, clean technologies. “Today’s winners are at the cutting edge of the nation’s maritime industry – a crucial part of this Government’s plan to grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the UK.” Maritime Minister Baroness Vere said: “The maritime sector’s drive towards a cleaner future goes hand in hand with the Government’s plan to grow the economy and create new, well-paid jobs all over the UK. “As a seafaring nation, it is in our national character to push nautical limits, and this funding will help to ensure the UK maintains its position at the leading edge of maritime innovation. I look forward to seeing all the industry has to offer over the course of London International Shipping Week.” London International Shipping Week, which runs from 11 September to 15 September, is one of the most important international shipping and maritime events in the world. Having grown consistently – and rapidly – since its conception in September 2013, this year’s event is the 10th anniversary and will explore the future of maritime with decarbonisation and the influx of artificial intelligence. The Transport Secretary will view one of Artemis Technologies’ clean vessels on the River Thames this morning, before chairing a roundtable at No10 Downing Street with senior representatives from maritime, technology and academia on artificial intelligence in maritime and the opportunities it presents for economic growth. The Maritime Minister will also be attending events throughout the week. Sarah Treseder, CEO of UK Chamber of Shipping said: “The number of applications meant hard decisions had to be made but shows the strong desire to reduce emissions across the sector and the successful projects will be a crucial element in the journey to net zero. “Published today, our Value of Shipping report shows that 650,000 jobs are dependent on shipping with every job in shipping supporting 10 more in the wider economy. This welcome funding is a chance to build on this strong foundation and help shipping deliver further jobs, innovation and economic growth in all parts of the UK.” The multi-million-pound Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) fund, launched in February, is designed to take tech from the factory to the sea by supporting projects which have a long-term impact in reducing carbon emissions. Successful projects must show they could use this money to work with major UK ports and operators to launch a zero-emission vessel by 2025 at the latest. One project on the south coast of England, the Zero Emission Network of Workboats, claim their work will deliver savings of 1000 tonnes of CO2 over the span of the three-year demonstration. That’s a saving equivalent to 113,000km driven by an HGV – saving millions of tonnes of CO2 if implemented around the world. This funding will also support an emission free postal service through Thames Clipper’s project to use a 100% electric fast vessel to deliver Amazon parcels from Dartford to Tower Bridge Quay. Hundreds of jobs are being supported thanks to ZEVI with the resulting research and development helping the sector shift its energy source away from fossil fuels. Portsmouth International Port has predicted the funding it’s receiving will help them deliver their 20-year plan and grow their employment from just under 6,000 to just over 40,000 while Collins River Enterprises have forecasted a boost in job numbers by up to 800 thanks to today’s funding. Mike Sellers, director of Portsmouth International Port said: “As a port owned by the people of Portsmouth, we have a duty to ensure that we grow sustainably and for the benefit of our local communities. “I’m proud of our ambitious sustainability goals and this project will see us be able to not only provide shore power for ships on three of our berths, but also provide power for the hybrid Brittany Ferries ships coming in 2025. We’re looking forward to working with the Department for Transport and Innovate UK to realise the full potential of this project for the UK and the shipping industry. “I’d like to thank my team at the port and our partners in the SEA CHANGE consortium for all their hard work in getting this bid over the line. This is a ground-breaking project that will not only benefit the city and the wider region but also the planet, by slashing carbon emissions, improving air quality and providing new high-skilled jobs.” Christophe Mathieu CEO of Brittany Ferries said: “The arrival of two LNG-hybrid ships in spring 2025, will be the climax of the biggest fleet renewal programme in our history. “Upon arrival, the vessels will be good neighbours to those who live and work around Portsmouth, the busiest port in our network. Furthermore, thanks to ZEVI funding, their plug-in potential will be unlocked from day one and I can’t think of a better place to celebrate this fantastic news than the start of LISW.” The ZEVI fund is part of the UK SHORE programme, launched in March 2022 with £206 million in funding. UK SHORE aims to tackle shipping emissions and advance the UK towards a sustainable shipping future. ENDS Contact Information
Craig Cunningham Notes to editors Notes to editors
Project descriptions of winning bids Strand 1 – Battery electric vessels and charging infrastructure Zero Emission Network Of Workboats (ZENOW) Lead partner: H.Taylor and Son (Brockley) Limited (RS Sailing) Funding allocated: £4m Demonstration location: 10 locations along the south coast including Falmouth, Fowey, Plymouth, Salcombe and Yarmouth Description: This project will develop and operate a large network of 20 electric workboats. The objective of the project is to prove that battery electric workboats can be operated effectively, efficiently, and safely. Estimated CO2 emissions savings from the three year project will be 1000 tonnes (the equivalent of 113,000 miles of driving of an average HGV), scaled worldwide this could save millions of tonnes per year. Electric Orkney Lead partner: Artemis Technologies Limited Funding allocated: £15.5m Demonstration location: Orkney Project description: This project will help decarbonise inter-island transport through the commissioning of two Artemis 100% electric foiling vessels, and associated charging infrastructure. The three-year demonstration will see the introduction of one 12 passenger vessel, operating a year round service in the inner island network, and another passenger vessel, for 50 passengers plus cargo, operating a daily service up to five times around the whole island network. Retrofit 20m Mercurio CTV - 100% Electric Lead partner: Tidal Transit Funding allocated: £6.4m Demonstration location: Aberdeen Project description: The project comprises the full retrofit of an existing offshore wind crew transfer vessels (CTV) with both onshore and offshore charging infrastructure. The finished product will not only be 100% zero emissions but also will have increased manoeuvrability whilst being close to silent for passengers and passersby. eSOV: Electric SOV with Methanol Range Extender Lead partner: Bibby Marine Services Ltd. Funding allocated: £20m Demonstration location: Aberdeen Project description: This project will deliver the first ultra-low emission Service Operation Vessel (SOV) in the world, along with the associated shore charging facilities. The 90m vessel will service windfarms and is an 'electric first' design with methanol enabled range extender. Zero-emission Electric Freight Vessel & Charging Infrastructure Lead partner: Collins River Enterprises Ltd (Thames Clipper) Funding allocated: £9.2m Demonstration location: Thames Project description: This project will build a 40-metre, 100% electric, fast freight catamaran. The 3-year demonstrator project will deliver up to 54,000 parcels a day along a 14.6 nautical mile route from Dartford to Tower Bridge Quay in central London, with fast charging infrastructure being built at each end of the route. Strand 2 – Shore power technologies Port of Aberdeen: Shore Power in Operation Lead partner: Aberdeen Harbour Board Funding allocated: £3.3m Demonstration location: Aberdeen Project description: This project is an at-scale demonstration project for a landside and vessel-side shore power system in Port of Aberdeen's (PoA) North Harbour, partnered with multiple vessel teams, engineering teams and academia. The project has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 62,000 tonnes of CO2e over project lifetime (20 years). Falmouth, Atlantic & Peninsula clean shore power future Lead partner: A&P Falmouth Ltd. Funding allocated: £6.3m Demonstration location: Falmouth Project description: An industrial research project to design, build and test a new clean energy shore side power solution suitable for multiple users at the Port of Falmouth. The aim is to provide the UK's first multi-vessel, flexible shore power connections on the Atlantic Peninsula, suitable for cruise liners and other commercial vessels from across the maritime sector. Sustainable Energy and Air Quality Improvement for Coastal Harbours to Achieve Net-zero with Grid Enhancements Lead partner: Portsmouth International Port Funding allocated: £19.9m Demonstration location: Portsmouth Project description: SEACHANGE will build and operate a new shore power system across three berths at Portsmouth International Port. This pioneering multi-user, multi-frequency, multi-berth system allows new hybrid/LNG vessels from Brittany Ferries and visiting cruise ships to plug in and switch off their engines. The system incorporates innovative energy storage solutions, digital twin ecosystem and sensors, surfacing and securely sharing metrics around air quality, emissions reduction and shore power utilisation. The project aims to avoid over 20,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions per year, by 2027. Strand 3 – Alternative fuel vessels and bunkering/storage infrastructure High horsepower methanol vessel retrofit Lead partner: Ocean Infinity Innovations Ltd. Funding allocated: £4.4m Demonstration location: Aberdeen Project description: This project will deliver a high horsepower methanol capable internal combustion engine designed and built in the UK. The engine will be proven in use by retrofitting an offshore service vessel capable of operation on low carbon methanol. This project is initially targeting a reduction in CO2 emissions of 50% for offshore operations by an OI A78 offshore vessel alongside NOx, SOx and PM at levels considerably below that developed with conventional fuel. ZEPHR - Zero Emissions Ports Hydrogen Refilling Survey Vessel Lead partner: Sea-Kit International Ltd. Funding allocated: £4.2m Demonstration location: Thames Project description: This project partners local green hydrogen production and storage, a hydrogen fuelled uncrewed surface vessel, and the vessel operator. Primarily targeting port operators and other similar use cases, this solution transfers readily accessible green electricity to green hydrogen to provide the vessel with longer operational ranges than batteries alone. The survey vessel will operate in the Thames estuary and increase the hydrographic data available for all users of the Thames, leading to port efficiency improvements, cost reductions, increased safety and reduced pollution. |