IMCA welco m e s workbo ats w it h n ew m embersh ip categ or y

The Int ernational Marine Contract ors Association (IMC A) has introduced a new member ship cat egor y enabling wor kboat owners and operat ors around the world t o join the organisation

The new categor y is uniquely for the owners and operators of small workboats - including crew transfer vessels, mooring assist vessels and sur vey vessels - which are less than 500 gross tonnage and with a load line length of less than 24 metres

Workboat membership will provide companies with full access to IMCA’s offering, including its extensive technical librar y and the oppor tunity to par ticipate in technical committees and specialist workgroups

Mark Ford, IMCA’s marine and quality manager commented: “The workboat community has strongly suppor ted our Marine Renewable Energy Committee for several years, and we are delighted to formally welcome them into the Association Membership will provide full access to our technical librar y of marine documents and formalise par ticipation across our technical committees

“With the substantial increase in both the number and sophistication of workboats operating in the offshore wind industr y, and the fact that they are not currently required to comply with the ISM or ISPS codes, it will be hugely beneficial for this growing segment of the industr y to be aligned with, and following, IMCA’s best practice ” Workboat operators interested in joining are encouraged to get in touch with IMCA at membership@imca-int com www imca-int com/membership/

Major milestone in UK’s race to net zero maritime with £77 million boost

• Government funding to see new, zero-emission vessels sailing in UK waters by 2025, unlocking thousands of skilled jobs nationwide

• UK-first as government targets multi-million-pound investment on green shipping tech on the cusp of being rolled out on a commercial scale

• Call for UK universities to join forces and apply for separate funding pot to deliver vital scientific research in the science behind clean maritime solutions

Zero-emission ferries, cruises and cargo ships will set sail in UK waters within two years, creating thousands of new jobs, thanks to a £77 million government investment in clean maritime technology

This is the first time in UK histor y the Government is inter vening to specifically target this level of funding on green maritime tech which is already well developed The funding will take the tech from the factor y to the sea – identifying which projects will have a long-term impact in reducing emissions

Successful projects must be able to show they could use this money to work with major UK por ts and operators to launch a zero-emission vessel by 2025 at the latest Examples of such technology include batter y electric vessels, shoreside electrical power, ships running on low carbon fuels like hydrogen or ammonia, and wind-assisted ferries

Transpor t Secretar y Mark Harper said: “When it comes to tackling climate change, we are taking action on all transpor t modes, which is why we ’ re making sure our world-leading maritime sector has a greener future

“This multi-million-pound investment will help the latest tech ideas become reality and ensure UK waters will play host to green cargo ships, ferries and cruises in the next few years

“Our funding will suppor t a cleaner freight system, a more environmentally friendly tourism industr y, and a net-zero maritime sector ”

The multi-million-pound Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition - launched today, Monday 6th Februar y - will see innovative companies apply for the funding, which must be used to decarbonise technology both on board and shoreside

The investment demonstrates the Government’s commitment to a new green age for maritime travel which is free from emissions, in line with the 1 5-degree temperature target set by the Paris Agreement Defence Secretar y and Shipbuilding Tsar, Ben Wallace, said: “Our National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh set ambitious plans to drive the green maritime revolution as a key step to reaching this Government’s net zero targets

“This investment is a clear statement that we are taking these plans seriously, helping to put the UK at the cutting edge of clean maritime technology while benefitting thousands of UK jobs ”

The competition will be overseen by Innovate UK, which has a record of delivering similar competitions across Government successfully

Innovate UK Executive Director for Net Zero Mike Biddle said: “This latest £77m investment in clean maritime innovation is another major milestone in the deliver y of the wider UK SHORE programme to accelerate the transition to Net Zero

“Innovate UK will work closely with the Depar tment for Transpor t in the deliver y of the Zero Emission Vessel and Infrastructure competition which will result in multi-year real world demonstrations of clean maritime technologies around the UK ”

The Government is also calling on universities across the UK to join forces to establish a new Clean Maritime Research Hub, with £7 4m funding from government and additional funding from academia and industr y

Research in the fundamental science behind clean maritime technologies will be delivered by the hub, building evidence and exper tise for the maritime sector It will also suppor t skills development across the industr y and generate knowledge for maritime decision-makers

The hub will be delivered in par tnership with, and co-funded by, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), par t of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

The ZEVI fund and Clean Maritime Research Hub are par t of the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme which was launched in March 2022 with £206 million in funding UK SHORE aims to tackle shipping emissions and advance the UK towards a sustainable shipping future