The UK Department for Transport has launched a new unit named UK SHORE to tackle shipping emissions and advance the UK towards sustainable shipping. The unit is backed by £ 206 million in funding to accelerate research and development of different technologies including hydrogen, electric and ammonia.
Taking steps to become a world leader in shaping the future of transport, the UK government will create its first office purely dedicated to making maritime greener – pioneering new research and development of technology that could make journeys by sea as green as they were hundreds of years ago.
Known as the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE), the new unit will be housed in the Department for Transport, building on the UK’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) launched last year. The £ 206 million in funding is to accelerate R&D of zero-emission maritime technologies and create skilled jobs across the country and is part of the government’s shipbuilding strategy.
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Partnership with industry
UK SHORE is to 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.
UK SHORE will also help develop the infrastructure to enable zero-emission technologies and the physical infrastructure needed to power these new vessels. The programme will include a multitude of technologies including hydrogen, electric and ammonia. The UK hopes this funding will place the country among the leading nations in the development of new and innovative vessels and port infrastructure and will boost its shipbuilding industry.
The UK government wants all vessels to be zero-emission by 2050.
