The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has published the Maritime Master Plan subsidy scheme in the Government Gazette. The scheme offers financial support to companies and organisations committed to developing pioneering maritime technologies and solutions for eventually around forty demonstration ships running on hydrogen, methanol or LNG with CO2 capture.
The scheme is designed to stimulate innovation and sustainability within the Dutch maritime sector. This is the first call of EUR 85 million out of a EUR 210 million grant from the National Growth Fund, of which EUR 100 million has been awarded definitively and EUR 110 million conditionally.
The Maritime Master Plan, an initiative of the Ministry in cooperation with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and Nederland Maritiem Land (NML), aims to position the Netherlands as a world leader in maritime innovation and sustainability. The just published grant scheme is a crucial step in realising this ambition.
Also read: Dutch Maritime Master Plan wins EUR 210 million in funding
Strengthening competitiveness
The grant provides a unique opportunity for companies to develop and implement innovative ideas for ships that might otherwise be financially unfeasible. This enables them to stay ahead in a sector that is constantly changing. By investing in maritime innovation, companies can strengthen their competitive position, use resources more efficiently, reduce operational costs and attract customers who value sustainability.
In addition, developing sustainable maritime solutions contributes to global efforts to reduce the impact of shipping on the environment. Demand for sustainable ships is therefore expected to increase.
Rob Verkerk, chairman of Nederland Maritiem Land: ‘By stimulating innovation and sustainability, we can not only strengthen the Netherlands’ competitive position, but also contribute to a more sustainable and resilient maritime industry. We look forward to seeing the projects that want to qualify for this scheme.’
All interested parties wishing to take advantage of this opportunity can apply for grant funding from 11 June 2024, 9 am to 1 October 2024, 5pm.
Also read: No guts, no Dutch glory, but sometimes being bold is not enough
