Maritime minister on Isle of Wight for UK SHORE green investment

Wight Shipyard in East Cowes provided the perfect backdrop for the industry.

UPDATE AND VIDEO: Maritime minister at Isle of Wight shipyard for investment boost

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

Taking steps to cement the UK’s role as a world leader in shaping the future of transport, the government will create its first office purely dedicated to making maritime greener — pioneering new research and development of technology which 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 success of the UK’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) launched last year.

Dedicated to creating a world free from shipping emissions, UK SHORE will implement a comprehensive R&D programme, including a multi-year clean maritime demonstration competition, and will work in partnership with industry to tackle supply and demand issues with ship building and help build greener vessels – from cruises, to tankers to 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-age vessels.

Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox.

The programme will include technologies including hydrogen, electric and ammonia, and the government says the 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.

The Minister announced the new funding today at the Southampton docks and on the Island.

He said: “We are building a green maritime legacy for generations to come.

“This is the biggest single investment in green shipping in the past hundred years, and is a further demonstration that the government is committed to working with the sector to develop the green shipping technologies of tomorrow.”

Robert Courts in Southampton earlier today.