Carisbrooke Shipping Supports £30 Million Drive for Green Maritime Innovation

Carisbrooke Shipping welcomes the UK government’s latest £30 million investment in maritime decarbonisation, reinforcing the industry’s shift towards cleaner, more sustainable operations. As part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC6), this funding supports innovations such as wind propulsion, hydrogen, and electric technologies to cut emissions and create jobs across the UK’s coastal economies.

A standout project within Innovate UK framework is the deployment of GT Wings’ AirWing™ wind propulsion system on a Carisbrooke vessel MV Vectis Progress. Expected to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by double digits, this ground-breaking technology is currently being assembled at the MMS Docks in Hull, with sea trials scheduled for February 2025.

Maritime Minister Mike Kane stated: “This new £30 million investment is part of our Plan for Change – growing the economy and making Britain a clean energy superpower. I’m proud to see this funding boost growth and create jobs throughout the UK, as well as ushering in an era of zero-emission shipping.”

Captain Simon Merritt, Senior Fleet Manager at Carisbrooke Shipping, highlighted the importance of this development: “We look forward to the first AirWing being installed on our cargo ship this month, significantly reducing fuel consumption and emissions. This project has been accelerated with funding from the Department for Transport and Innovate UK under CMDC Round 4. It demonstrates the power of collaboration between leading British companies, turning innovative ideas into real solutions to decarbonise the maritime industry while creating job opportunities in the UK.”

With CMDC6 applications opening on 24 January, Carisbrooke Shipping continues to champion advancements that enhance operational efficiency and environmental responsibility. This latest funding round brings total investment in UK maritime decarbonisation to £159 million, fostering economic growth while driving the transition towards net-zero shipping.

We are looking forward to update you on our progress from shipyard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T3_JZsAnok