Securing a greener future with cleaner maritime technology
Source: gov.uk (2025-04-02)

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has been supporting the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC).

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has been at the forefront of The Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC), a government-funded initiative to support the delivery of net zero emissions across the maritime industry.

Delivered by Innovate UK on behalf of the Department for Transport’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, each iteration of the scheme awards funds in areas of green technology, decarbonisation and skills development.

CMDC round 6 is currently open for bidders until Wednesday 16 April, and invites UK-registered organisations to apply for their share of a £30 million fund to pitch and develop innovative clean maritime technologies and skills.

HQ Consultant Surveyor Gwen Lancaster has been involved with the competition since its early stages. Gwen has helped provide the programme with technical and specialist maritime insight.

Essentially, the CMDC provides funding to projects that progress innovative ideas and concepts,” she says.

The MCA provides technical maritime advice and insight to the programme, guiding both the technology focus and advising on aspects and areas that require certification, surveying or regulatory compliance.

We’re able to consider the regulatory pathway and how entirely new products or inventions can be certified according to our processes and standards.

Previous rounds of the CMDC have funded a diverse range of projects, covering future fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia, electrification of vessels and energy efficiency alongside feasibility studies exploring concepts like UK green shipping corridors in support of the Clydebank Declaration.

MCA’s role in delivery of this programme is particularly key when a project involves the integration of an innovative technology with an existing ship, as a recent example the MCA supported the integration and subsequent sea-trials of a 20m wing sail developed by a consortium led by Smart Green Shipping, with the sail being retrofit to the UK-flagged Pacific Grebe.

The sail, which operates autonomously, has the potential to reduce energy demand and fuel consumption significantly, cutting operating costs and CO2 emissions while aiding UK decarbonisation efforts.

Gwen, who was part of the vessel’s survey and inspection team, said:

As the FastRig wing sail was retrofitted for use on a commercial vessel, it required technical input from MCA Surveyors as well as the vessels Classification Society Lloyd’s Register.

It’s a complex and thorough process but it is essential that all the necessary steps are followed to ensure that the invention is correctly certified, all safety considerations are made, and relevant legislation is followed.

Our Marine Office audited and inspected the vessel, which was then able to head to Southampton for demonstration and sea trials.

Decarbonisation of the shipping industry is a key priority for both UK and International shipping, and the MCA is committed to supporting safe, sustainable innovation across the sector.

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