Video: Plans for a 24-passenger ferry that would produce zero emissions (Credit: Artemis Technologies)
She said: ‘The UK has always been a proud seafaring nation, and helping the maritime sector to be more environmentally friendly will mean it continues to play a key role in the UK’s economy for generations to come.’
Among winning projects from the last round of funding – £12million in May – were plans by Artemis Technologies in Belfast to develop electric-powered ships that ‘fly’ above the water, eliminating operational emissions and cutting fuel costs by up to 90 per cent by reducing drag. The company received £1million to develop an environmentally friendly 24-metre workboat to carry workers to and from offshore wind farms.
Artemis is also planning to use the hydrofoil technology on a 24-passenger ferry between Belfast and Bangor, Northern Ireland, from 2024.
David Tyler, commercial director at Artemis Technologies, said: ‘Following years of underinvestment in research and innovation by the maritime industry, the sector is under real pressure to develop and adopt disruptive technologies if it has any chance of achieving the UK’s ambitious net-zero targets.’
Another winner was a consortium planning to create a ‘green corridor’ between Dover and the French ports of Calais and Dunkirk by securing international agreements to ensure only zero-emission vessels could use the route.
Today’s announcement follows the allocation of £206million to support zero-emission sailing and skilled maritime jobs as part of UK Shore, announced in March this year.
