The Centre for Future Clean Mobility (CFCM) at the University of Exeter has won funding in partnership with Plymouth City Council, Plymouth University, Marine Biological Association and Plymouth Marine Laboratories to help develop maritime regulations to support innovation in clean maritime propulsion. CFCM is part of the consortium led by Plymouth City Council which has been awarded nearly £850,000 from the BEIS’s Regualtors’ Pioneer Fund. This innovative project is focused on developing a framework for testing prototype clean maritime propulsion systems and vessel autonomy and includes the Maritime and Coastguard Agency as a key partner.
CFCM’s role utilising their world leading expertise on clean powertrains, is to lead development of a new set of regulations for a new class of ‘Prototype Vessel’ which can test out new experimental clean propulsion systems and autonomy features. Partners such as University of Plymouth, and PML will lead on regulation of autonomy. Once these new regulations are in place it will mean the UK can get an advantage in development of clean powertrains, a global market expected to top 1 trillion dollars.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is the national regulator for UK seas and works to prevent the loss of lives at sea and to prevent marine pollution. They are key partners in this work as the project looks to develop safe protocols for vessel to test prototype powertrains and autonomous features on open water.
CFCM is working at the frontier of maritime developments and this work is an important step in boosting innovation and market share in maritime propulsion for the UK.