UK Government Allocates £30 Million to Advance Clean Maritime Technologies and Support Coastal Communities

The UK Government has announced £30 million in new funding to support the development of clean maritime technologies across the country. The announcement, made by Maritime Minister Mike Kane during a visit to Clydeport in Glasgow on 24 July 2025, is part of the sixth round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC).
The funding will support projects focused on alternative fuels and green technologies, including ammonia, hydrogen, methanol, solar power and electric systems. The investment aims to contribute to the decarbonisation of shipping while promoting economic development in coastal communities through job creation and skills growth.
To date, the CMDC has awarded more than £136 million to 142 organisations. These efforts fall under the broader UK SHORE programme, which has supported over 300 organisations, including 250 small and medium-sized enterprises. Previous projects have included the installation of electric charging networks at ports such as Aberdeen, an electric crew transfer vessel demonstration at the Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm, and a green hydrogen shore power system at the Port of Leith.
During the Clydeport visit, the minister met with representatives from the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), which is collaborating with Smart Green Shipping to scale up production of the FastRig wingsail. The sail, built in Glasgow, has been designed to reduce vessel fuel use and emissions by up to 40 percent per year. It received £3.3 million in funding from a previous CMDC round and has now been successfully deployed.
Chris Courtney, CEO of NMIS, emphasised the importance of advanced manufacturing in scaling new solutions for maritime decarbonisation and highlighted ongoing work with Glasgow-based Malin Marine Consultants through the MariLight projects. These initiatives focus on improving production efficiency and reducing carbon in shipbuilding.
Smart Green Shipping CEO Diane Gilpin said the CMDC funding enabled the company to demonstrate the FastRig wingsail and further develop its digital tool, FastReach. She noted that the company has invested £7.6 million in research and development over the past three years, with the majority of that funding spent in Scotland. The company is working with NMIS to establish circular manufacturing practices that support green job creation and reduce resource use.
Minister Kane also met with Peel Ports at Clydeport’s King George V Docks, where a £3 million infrastructure upgrade has been completed to accommodate growing demand for handling large wind turbine components. The investment is intended to support the renewable energy supply chain and maintain Glasgow’s legacy in shipbuilding and heavy manufacturing.
Jim McSporran, Port Director at Peel Ports Clydeport, said the improvements demonstrate the port’s role in supporting Scotland’s transition to a low-carbon economy through investment and collaboration.
Mike Biddle, Executive Director for Net Zero at Innovate UK, congratulated the latest CMDC award recipients and reaffirmed the programme’s role in driving innovation to address maritime decarbonisation.
In addition to project funding, UK SHORE will also provide £3.85 million to the Clean Maritime Research Hub. The hub is a consortium of 13 universities across the UK focused on scientific research in sustainable maritime technologies. The new funding will support ongoing research, including the installation of a liquid hydrogen facility at Durham University, aimed at advancing understanding of hydrogen’s potential role in emissions-free maritime operations.