Clean Maritime

Trailblazing clean maritime innovation
Clean Maritime
Fuel powering shipping and wider port activity has been some of the most polluting fuel used across all transport modes. Globally, the maritime sector needs to do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants as these affect the environment profoundly accelerating the climate change.

The Clean Maritime Plan sets out how the UK can take a proactive role in driving the transition to zero emission shipping in its waters and is globally recognised as a leader in this field.
At Plymouth, we are among the UK’s leading proponents of clean maritime research, with a track record in consistently securing government funding through the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition.
Through engagement with business and the wider scientific community, we are co-creating ways of transforming this research into practical solutions to challenges faced by the marine and maritime sectors.
We led the partnership that created the UK’s first e-marine hub of shore-side charging facilities for electric maritime vessels and played an integral role in enabling £15.6 million of Levelling Up funding to be secured for the Appledore Clean Maritime Innovation Centre in 2023.
Our position as a founding member of the National Centre for Coastal Autonomy, launching the national Cyber-SHIP Lab in collaboration with major marine industries, and partnerships such as with the Royal Navy all drive our ability for advanced ocean observation.
Meanwhile, through state-of-the-art facilities, such as the COAST Laboratory and Maritime Simulation Lab we continue to harness the capability of new and existing technology.
 

Clean maritime explained

Dr Richard Pemberton and Ms Sarah Fear explore the complex and multifaceted potential of clean maritime, decarbonising the maritime industry in line with the targets of net zero emissions set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
How easy is it to refuel at sea? And is it feasible for shipping to move away from diesel to alternative energy sources?
Research at the Centre for Decarbonisation and Offshore Renewable Energy and our collaboration with industry is pivotal in developing sustainable solutions for clean maritime and supporting the sector in adopting novel technologies for zero-emission shipping.
 

Plymouth Perspectives on clean maritime

offshore renewable energy
Is offshore renewable energy the future of carbon-free shipping?
clean maritime
Is moving maritime away from fossil fuels really a step into the unknown?
MAS
Tackling the dirty, dull and dangerous: shipping clean with autonomous marine systems
green shipping
Is there a 'silver bullet' solution to green shipping?
Cyber-SHIP lab images
Are clean maritime solutions resilient to cyber-attacks at sea?
Shutterstock Aerial top view container cargo ship in import export business commercial trade logistic and transportation of international by container cargo ship in the open sea, Container cargo freight shipping.
Making waves: how we are leading the way in maritime research for cleaner seas
Trailblazing clean maritime innovation

Providing evidence to support policy-making processes

The Maritime 2050 strategy sets out how the UK can take a proactive role in driving the transition to zero emission shipping in its waters.
"The challenge is encouraging smaller ports to decarbonise. Helping a hundred small harbours de-carbonise could potentially deliver the same impact as a large port de-carbonising."

Sarah Fear
A series of high power DC electric charging stations has been installed around the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park (Credit - University of Plymouth)

Projects making the headlines

Plymouth harbour marina

The Virtual Bunkering for Electric Vessels - the world's first vessel-to-grid project.

clean maritime 

£5.4million project aims to develop world’s largest network of electric workboats

Sutton Harbour

First transatlantic vessel-to-grid project aims to advance marine electrification

E-link

An electric ferry for the heart of Plymouth

The Appledore Clean Maritime Innovation Centre

University integral to £15.6m investment in maritime innovation at Appledore

Cetus

Vessel confirms University’s place at forefront of autonomous ocean science

High power DC electric charging point

£3.2million project aims to enable south coast boat owners to transition to clean maritime

Ocean Futures

Consortium submits plan to confirm South West’s status as a global leader in ocean technology innovation

e-Voyager

UK’s first sea-going electric ferry launches in Plymouth

Explore our areas of expertise

People

State-of-the-art facilities

Centre for Decarbonisation and Offshore Renewable Energy

Centre for Decarbonisation and Offshore Renewable Energy

In response to climate change imperatives, we are bringing together a critical mass of leading research and expertise from across the University of Plymouth. Through co-creation and collaboration with partners from business, government and key communities from across the globe, the Centre aims to be a beacon for the University’s whole-system transdisciplinary approach to solutions-oriented research, accelerating sustainable developments in decarbonisation and renewable energy.
 

Centre for Systems Thinking: Ocean, Land and Society

The Centre for Systems Thinking: Ocean, Land and Society champions a whole-system transdisciplinary approach to solutions-oriented research to improve planetary health. The Centre brings together an unrivalled critical mass of catchment-coast-ocean expertise from across the University’s Strategic Research Institutes to address 21st-century challenges alongside national and international policy.
Plymouth, UK: Marina Drone Photos, credit: Drone Motion Stock, courtesy of ShutterstockCentre for Systems Thinking lead image

Interdisciplinary Strategic Institutes

Our diverse research spans three Strategic Institutes. Collaborative endeavour in rich, natural environments drives solutions to global challenges.

Richard Thompson Plymouth Pioneers. plastic bottle in sea

Marine Institute
Marine, maritime, education and innovation expertise integrate to train scientists, engineers, policymakers, artists, technicians and business.

COVID-19

Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research
Transformation in life course, ageing, methodologies, e-health, technology and interventions in health, social care, lifestyle, health and wellbeing.

Research with the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Sustainable Earth Institute
Science, engineering, arts, humanities, health and business, with community, businesses and individuals, innovate to build resilience for our planet.