We are excited to announce that we are also partnering with Serco’s Maritime Services team in our winning £1.4 million Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) bid, with Ecomar Propulsion and the University of Plymouth to produce a fully electric, zero emission dual outboard motor for commercial workboats. This joint project will remove 5 million tonnes of CO2 from the marine industry within 10 years.
The Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CDMC) was launched in March 2021 as part of the Prime Minister’s ten point plan. Building on the vision set out in the Department for Transport’s Clean Maritime Plan 2019, the competition with Innovate UK has allocated match-funding to UK innovators to support the design and development of zero emission vessel technologies and greener ports through a series of technology trials and feasibility studies. This project follows on from a previous feasibility study we undertook with Ecomar, and we are now joined by Serco Limited and the University of Plymouth.
Professor Chris Smith, our Director, said “This project marks the birth of a new industry, based in the South West and South Coast, innovating and growing to meet the demand from the expanding market for zero emissions propulsion systems in the maritime sector.”
Serco Limited are a provider of key public services working across a variety of sectors, including Transport and Defence. As part of Serco’s Defence Maritime Services business, they have been working on a number of workstreams looking into decarbonising their fleet, as they aim to align with the UK Government’s target of becoming a ‘net zero’ emitter by 2050. Mike Hayes, Serco’s Maritime Portfolio Manager, explained that “Serco are delighted to be partnering with Ecomar Propulsion, as well as Plymouth and Exeter Universities, in their winning CMDC bid”.
You can find out more in the press release from Ecomar Propulsion Ltd and in our previous blog post.