UK GOVERNMENT PLOUGHS FUNDS INTO GREEN MARITIME

The UK government has signed off £60 million (€69 million) to hand out to a total of 18 companies to develop clean maritime solutions.

The funding is phase three of its Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC3), under the Department of Transport, which includes propulsion options like ammonia, hydrogen, electric and wind power.

Electric foiling workboat designer Artemis Technologies stands to benefit with funding for two of its projects, a 12m crew transfer vessel with shore charging infrastructure, and a hydrofoil vessel that it is testing for use beyond its scope as a workboat.

“With this latest round of funding, we are emboldened to advance our green technology projects, develop worldleading clean vessels for our seas, and continue on our mission to lead the decarbonisation of maritime,” said Artemis Technologies CEO Iain Percy.

Other projects include electric passenger vessels and workboats, shore power, hydrogen retrofits, power trains, a rigid wingsail system, carbon capture and on and offshore charging infrastructure, such as Jebb Smith’s power buoy.

This has been developed in the European Offshore Wind Demonstration Centre (EOWDC) in Orkney, off the north coast of Scotland, and uses power from a nearby wind turbine to recharge CTVs operating between Aberdeen and the EOWDC.

Transport secretary Mark Harper, who visited Artemis Technologies’ premises in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on February 14, said the maritime sector contributed more to the UK economy than aviation and rail transport combined, at £116 billion (€131.5 billion).

“With growing the economy one of the Government’s top priorities, we must continue our efforts to ensure the UK remains a pioneer in cutting-edge clean maritime solutions,” he said.

“The funding we’re awarding today will help to do just that, bringing emission-free concepts to life and fuelling innovation.”

“The UK Chamber of Shipping is committed to net zero by 2050,” said UK Chamber of Shipping CEO Sarah Tresder. “This funding is an important milestone in ensuring we continue to work together to achieve this important target and will help us complete the journey from theory to reality for zero emission shipping.”

Yamaha launches Premium and High Power outboards

Yamaha has introduced Premium and High Power engines that it says give increased acceleration, faster speeds and can be fitted to ‘even more boats’.

The company has launched an XTO 450hp V8 and an XTO 400hp V8 with new cowling design, graphics, enhances user features and a superior power to weight ratio, which is says makes them an option for more vessels.

“The natural aspiration of the XTO (which stands for Xtreme Thrust Output) 450hp and 400hp V8 makes them ideal for powering larger boats, and the V8 configuration delivers enviable power across the rev range creating even more opportunities to use outboards to power ever larger and heavier vessels,” says the company.

The engines are designed to be used with

Yamaha’s Helm Master Ex boat control system, which means the joystick control can be used anywhere on the boat.

They also include Yamaha’s Total Tilt function, which “makes tilting the engine a push button exercise, while the integrated tilt limit option enables the full tilt position to be set, ensuring it’s in the best position for each individual boat, preventing the possibility of cowling damage and keeping the engines in prime condition for longer”.

A noise reduction silencer has also been added for quieter cruising at speed, alnog with an in-water gear lubrication change system for on-water oil changes.

“We continuously strive to satisfy the needs of a wide variety of commercial and recreational users, and Yamaha’s new outboard engines represent another key step towards opening up outboard power for ever larger and heavier vessels and bringing cutting edge technology within reach for more customers,” said Matt Taylerson, Yamaha’s divisional manager, Marketing.