UK SHORE to take maritime 'back to the future' with green investment

23 Mar '22

2 min read

Pic: Shutterstock

The UK government will create its first office under the transport department fully dedicated to making maritime greener. The new UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE), dedicated to creating a world free from shipping emissions, will pioneer research and development of technology that could make journeys by sea as green as they were hundreds of years ago.

The decision builds on the success of the government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) launched last year.

UK SHORE will implement a comprehensive research and development programme, including a multi-year CMDC, and will work in partnership with industry to tackle supply and demand issues with shipbuilding and help build greener vessels—from cruises to tankers and leisure boats, according to an official release.

Thousands of ships, cruises and vessels will become greener and cleaner with £206 million in investment to support zero emission sailing and skilled maritime jobs, as part of the government’s shipbuilding strategy.

UK SHORE will also help develop the infrastructure to enable zero emission technologies and the physical infrastructure needed to power these new-age vessels. The programme will include a multitude of technologies including hydrogen, electric and ammonia, and this funding will place the UK among the leading nations in the development of new and innovative vessels and port infrastructure, supporting its rich maritime industry and coastal communities.

Funding under UK SHORE will relaunch manufacturing hotspots across the United Kingdom, creating new skilled jobs and opportunities while levelling up local economies.

Meanwhile, the international trade secretary recently announced a new exports office to turbocharge the UK’s maritime trade sector as part of a £4-billion investment in shipbuilding.

The Maritime Capability Campaign Office (MCCO) will unite the department’s defence export and civil maritime capabilities in one unit, targeting export opportunities estimated to be worth up to £600 million.

MCCO will work with industry and the government’s National Shipbuilding Office to line up high-quality maritime trade opportunities for UK firms in the maritime sector looking to export worldwide.

It will form the exports and investment arm of the government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), announced by defence secretary Ben Wallace.

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