Another £60 million boost for UK clean maritime innovations

The UK government has allocated £60 million ($72 million) in funding to support projects that seek to develop new maritime technologies.

PHOTO: Artemis' electric hydrofoil workboat. UK Department for Transport

The $72 million funding will be dispersed to the winners of the third round of the UK’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC3). Around 40 companies operating across the UK have qualified for the funding.

Green maritime technology firms such as Artemis Technologies and Collin River Enterprises are among the qualified companies.

Artemis Technologies has developed high-speed electric foiling boats that nearly fly above water level, which leads to less drag. The company claims these boats offer energy savings of up to 90% compared to conventional vessels. It says the UK government funding will help to commercialise its invention.

Meanwhile, Collin River Enterprises plans to use the funding it has been awarded to build and test an electric ferry on the River Thames.

Last week, the UK government launched a £77 million ($92 million) Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition. Under ZEVI, successful bidders must demonstrate that they can develop technologies to help key British ports and ship operators to introduce zero-emission vessels by 2025. The UK government will then select projects that qualify for the funding.

The funding for both ZEVI and CMDC3 comes from a larger pool of £206 million ($247 million) allocated for the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) scheme, launched last March.

By Nithin Chandran

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