Decarbonisation (including energy efficiency and alternative fuels) – UK Maritime Innovation Hub
Driving the transition to net zero maritime through evidence-led innovation, while improving performance and reducing operating costs.
The UK Maritime Innovation Hub supports organisations working to decarbonise vessels, ports and marine operations. We help you navigate regulation, plan and run safe trials, generate credible evidence, and accelerate the adoption of clean technologies. We also provide advice and guidance to projects addressing data-driven improvements and future maritime fuels.
The use of fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, methanol and advanced biofuels, along with other zero-and near-zero greenhouse gas emissions options, requires careful consideration across safety, engineering, operations, training and emergency response. We do not set fuel policy or standards, but we help projects navigate the regulatory landscape.
We act as a focal point within the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), providing early support to innovators technology developers, researchers and industry partners, ensuring technical planning and regulatory pathways are clear and expertly coordinated.
We also help organisations engage effectively with major UK funding programmes such as UK SHORE’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) and the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) fund and signpost to opportunities including the Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG) programme (TRIG).
We help projects become ready for deployment, regulation and evidence generation, supporting safe innovation across the maritime ecosystem.
How we support decarbonisation
Timely guidance and regulatory navigation
We provide a single entry point, helping organisations understand:
- the regulatory guidance or standards apply to a decarbonisation concept, technology, system or choice of alternative fuel
- the regulatory and policy context in which a proposed technology or system will be used, including wider decarbonisation drivers and trends at both national and international levels
- the regulators’ motives and what evidence or modelling is likely to be required to satisfy them, the funders, the MCA or classification partners, and a wider appreciation of the benefits of the suggested development
- how to structure early-stage development to reduce delays later in the process
- identify necessary permits, exemptions or approvals
- how to build credible evidence packages for regulators and funders
Systems integration and assurance considerations
New technologies and systems can interact with multiple systems across a vessel in unintended ways.
We help organisations consider:
- the potential impacts of integration with existing propulsion, control and monitoring systems
- how innovative technologies may interface with power management and onboard energy systems
- the human element impacts, including on workload and operability
- additional requirements for documentation, assurance or verification during testing and rollout
Trial and demonstration enablement
Many decarbonisation technologies or system modifications need safe, real-world demonstration.
We help by:
- supporting trials and sandboxes, and advising on test plans, including test matrices and key performance indicators (KPIs)
- identifying regulatory touchpoints and risk controls before testing begins
- structuring data capture so testing generates credible, decision-grade evidence and enables verification
- ensuring testing is safe, proportionate and aligned with MCA or classification partners’ expectations
- facilitating testing on a whole-vessel basis, or by focusing on key aspects including but not limited to hull form improvements, propulsion hybridisation, energy saving devices (ESDs) and digital optimisation as appropriate
Safety cases, assurance and regulatory readiness
We support developers in preparing:
- proportionate risk assessments including structured risk assessment tools such as Hazard Identification (HAZID) and Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP), emergency procedures and mitigations
- fuel-specific storage, transfer, containment, control systems and crew interaction assessments which recognise the new technical and operational hazards associated with individual or combined fuel characteristics
- how proposed developments or efficiency gains affect safety, operability, lifecycle considerations and societal risks
- safety cases that align with existing codes, standards and alternative design pathways
- documentation and evidence required for approvals and exemptions where needed
Port and infrastructure readiness
We assist ports, operators, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), energy providers and other regulators in identifying what is required for:
- infrastructure and port readiness, including shore power and high rate charging systems, storage, spill response, ventilation and hazard zoning requirements
- low-and zero-emissions fuel bunkering and safety planning
- grid capacity, energy management and smart integration
- operator training and human element implications for safe operations
- replication and scale-up across multiple ports and regions
Turning evidence into shared learning and sector guidance
A core function of the UK Maritime Innovation Hub is capturing lessons and common challenges from live projects, across fuels, vessel types and operational environments so they can inform:
- regulatory evolution, both domestically and internationally
- future guidance around subjects such as performance data (efficiency, emissions, reliability)
- practical deployment advice for operators and ports, and replicable models for fleetwide efficiency updates
- funding readiness
- sector wide standards and best practice including for safety and human element observations
This creates a feedback loop where industry experience actively shapes future pathways to decarbonisation and enhanced efficiencies.
Areas we commonly support
The UK Maritime Innovation Hub supports:
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emissions reduction strategies and modelling: supporting industry in understanding impact, feasibility and practical deployment pathways
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energy efficient vessel design: including hybridisation, electrification, hydrodynamic optimisation and advanced propulsion systems
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infrastructure readiness and port decarbonisation: helping ports and operators plan systems that are safe, scalable and compliant
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advanced propulsion concepts: including electric hybrid, alternative fuel ready and alternative drive systems
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hull performance technologies: these may include coatings, appendages and resistance reduction solutions
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energy saving devices: options might include propeller upgrades, waste heat recovery, and auxiliary system optimisations
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energy generating devices: distinct from energy saving devices, these notably include wind assistance and solar systems
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digital optimisation tools: helping ports, operators and industry understand artificial intelligence supported routing, performance analytics, and predictive maintenance
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future maritime fuels: including hydrogen fuel systems (compressed, liquefied or carrier based); ammonia combustion or fuel cell systems; methanol dual fuel or methanol ready conversions; sustainable advanced biofuels and blends; hybrid systems combining batteries with low emission fuels; and portside bunkering and storage innovations
Useful guidance
The MCA provides guidance to support vessel owners, operators and designers who are considering alternative fuels.
These publications explain the process, regulatory expectations and how to engage with the UK Maritime Innovation Hub when designing, building or converting vessels to use electric, hydrogen, methanol or ammonia fuels.
MCA customer process for alternative fuels – electric
MCA customer process for alternative fuels – hydrogen
MCA customer process for alternative fuels – methanol
MCA customer process for alternative fuels – ammonia
Work with us
Whether you are exploring a new clean technology concept, preparing for a funded demonstration of an innovative efficiency system, or planning a portside decarbonisation solution, the UK Maritime Innovation Hub can help you navigate the development process, prepare the right evidence and move forward confidently.
Contact the UK Maritime Innovation Hub by completing the online form.
For further information, email innovation@mcga.gov.uk.