Coastal communities and green innovators across the UK are to benefit from a GB£30m boost aimed at cleaning up sea travel and powering economic renewal through green maritime technologies. The funding, announced by Maritime Minister Mike Kane at Clydeport in Glasgow, marks the sixth round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC).
This latest investment builds on over £136m already allocated to more than 142 organisations across every UK region. The CMDC is part of UK SHORE, the government’s flagship programme to decarbonise shipping and establish Britain as a global leader in clean energy innovation.
Backing innovation from sail power to hydrogen
The funding will support the development of next-generation clean maritime fuels and technologies – including ammonia, hydrogen, methanol, electric and solar power – to reduce shipping emissions and revitalise port economies. Among the standout innovations already at sea is the FastRig wing sail, a high-tech retrofit sail system developed by Smart Green Shipping (SGS), built in Glasgow and capable of reducing vessel emissions and fuel use by up to 40% annually.
“It’s so exciting to see investment in green fuels and technologies spurring on skills, innovation and manufacturing across the UK,” said Maritime Minister Mike Kane. “We’ve charted a course to net-zero shipping by 2050. This £30m will be crucial in supporting the green fuels and technologies of the future, so we can clean up sea travel and trade.”
Scotland’s legacy powers future-ready shipping
During his visit to Clydeport’s King George V Docks, the minister met with representatives from Peel Ports and the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), which is working to help scale up production of the FastRig system. With £3.3m in previous CMDC backing, the wing sail project has brought together Scottish manufacturing expertise and digital innovation to develop a circular production model with global potential.
“CMDC3 support enabled SGS, a Scottish-based business, to demonstrate the safety and robustness of FastRig, our Clyde-built wingsails, and to build out our digital decision-making platform, FastReach,” said SGS CEO Diane Gilpin. “We’ve invested £7.6m in R&D – 60% of that in Scotland – drawing on skills from renewables, oil and gas, and digital sectors. We’re designing sustainable circular manufacturing solutions to create good green jobs as part of a just transition.”
Ports powering up for clean energy demands
At Peel Ports Clydeport, ongoing investment is transforming legacy infrastructure to meet the demands of the renewable energy sector. The operator recently committed £3m to road improvements at King George V Dock to handle ever-larger wind turbine components, while nearby Hunterston PARC continues to evolve as a renewables logistics and innovation hub.
“We’re proud to welcome the Maritime Minister to Peel Ports Clydeport and showcase how our facilities continue to create opportunities for investment, jobs and skills,” said Jim McSporran, Port Director at Peel Ports Clydeport. “Our infrastructure investments demonstrate our commitment to decarbonising supply chains and enabling the transition to a greener economy.”
Manufacturing momentum and research investment
CMDC’s impact extends well beyond engineering alone. Glasgow-based Malin Marine Consultants and other partners have used CMDC funding to explore how advanced manufacturing can drive down lead times, cut carbon, and support localised shipbuilding. Chris Courtney, CEO of NMIS, described the work as “critical to enable companies to scale up novel solutions that deliver emissions reductions and allow the creation of new jobs in these industries of the future.”
Alongside industrial development, UK SHORE is also supporting science-driven innovation. An additional £3.85m will go to the Clean Maritime Research Hub – a consortium of 13 UK universities – to continue critical research, including the installation of a liquid hydrogen test facility at Durham University.
Innovate UK, which administers the CMDC scheme, described the latest round of funding as a clear sign of the UK’s commitment to fostering maritime innovation across both physical and digital domains. “Congratulations to the awarded projects from Round 6 of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition,” said Mike Biddle, Executive Director, Net Zero at Innovate UK. “This is a great opportunity for UK innovators to take part in a world-renowned maritime transport R&D grant funding programme.”