Cranfield University part of new £21.3m national research hub to decarbonise the UK maritime sector

• Collaboration involving 12 other universities will establish the UK National Clean Maritime Research Hub
• The hub will receive £7.4m from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and UK Government’s Department for Transport
• An additional £13.9m in funding will come from universities and project partners

Researchers at Cranfield University are part of a collaboration geared towards accelerating the decarbonisation and elimination of air pollution in the UK’s shipping industry.

The project – led by Durham University – is called the UK National Clean Maritime Research Hub (UK-MaRes Hub) and will see experts at Cranfield work alongside the University of Liverpool and City University on port and vessel infrastructure development as well as helping the sector accelerate the transition towards digitalisation.

As well as environmental impacts, the Hub will also focus on the potential economic and social benefits of transitioning to a clean maritime future.

Ying Xie, Professor of Supply Chain Analytics at Cranfield School of Management, will lead a team driving innovative solutions in port and vessel development.

She said: “The maritime industry plays a crucial part in both the UK and global economy.

“Decarbonising the maritime sector requires a comprehensive and holistic perspective. This interdisciplinary hub brings together researchers from various disciplines, tackling the complex challenges associated with decarbonisation of the maritime industry.”

The Hub will carry out innovative research in sustainable marine fuels and their safe use, low-carbon power and propulsion systems for shipping, in addition to decarbonised port operations and infrastructure, improved maritime operations and vessel efficiency.

It also brings together more than 70 industrial, civic and international organisations as project partners, including shipping companies, ports, equipment and service providers, fuel producers and civic bodies.

The UK-MaRes Hub is a consortium led by Durham and includes researchers from Cranfield, Aston, Birmingham, Brighton, City, Cranfield, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Solent, St Andrews and Ulster universities.

Funding for the hub includes £7.4m from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the UK Government’s Department for Transport, with an additional £13.9m financial and in-kind match funding from consortium universities and project partners.