UK announces £80 million in funding for green vessels and infrastructure

The funding for projects from Orkney to Portsmouth was announced at the start of London International Shipping Week.

UK 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.”

The ZEVI fund was launched in February this year with successful project showing they can work with UK ports and operators to launch a zero emission vessel by 2025 at the latest.

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.”

One of the bigger winners was Portsmouth International Port with £19.8 million in funding for the Sea Change project which will design, build and operate shore power systems for three of its busiest berths. The port is carrying out the project with Brittany Ferries, alongside the University of Portsmouth, MSE International, B4T, IOTICS and Swanbarton, to although vessels to plug into green electricity when at berth in the port.

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The port said the project would realise the full potential of two new LNG-electric hybrid ships from Brittany Ferries, which will begin sailing from Portsmouth starting in spring 2025 and will be shore-power ready.

“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,” said Mike Sellers, Director of Portsmouth International Port.

Other projects announced as winners of funding are Artemis Technologies with £15.5 million in funding demonstration of electrifying inter-island ferries with two vessels in the Orkney Islands.

Tidal Transit with a £6.4 million in funding for the retrofitting of an existing crew transfer vessel for offshore wind farms to 100% electric power. The retrofit demonstration project in Aberdeen includes both offshore and onshore charging infrastructure.