The UK Department for Transport (DfT), in partnership with Innovate UK, has announced an investment of £8 million (approx. $10.4 million) across three programmes designed to reduce the UK’s shipping emissions.
The money has been awarded to the latest UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme winners, with 32 firms to collectively receive the funding to test their systems, from artificial intelligence maritime traffic planning and autonomous vessels to establishing green shipping routes between the Netherlands and Ireland.
Selected projects chosen to benefit from the Smart Shipping Accelerating Fund include Project Sunflower, which is aiming to create autonomous solutions for Terminal Tractors at ports to reduce emissions, as well as Project BlueWater, which will explore how multi-use drones can improve shipping and port efficiency.
An EcoRoutePlanner project was also chosen as a winner, looking to bring digital tools for smart route planning and operational efficiency to crew transfer vessels responsible for servicing offshore wind farms.
“Like so many transport industries, transitioning to green technologies has historically been a challenge for the maritime sector,” said James Lovett, Maritime Lead at Innovate UK.
“With extremely busy shipping channels and routes reliant on old technologies, integrating sustainable solutions whilst maintaining current levels of activity is a difficult process.”
“UK SHORE’s funding programmes have all been commissioned with the objective of reducing the UK maritime industry’s carbon emissions. Each of the 32 announced winners present their own innovative projects, looking to accelerate the rollout of greener technologies and processes throughout the industry. We’re excited to see how these projects unfold over the coming months.”
