Bayes wins major grant funding for national clean maritime research hub
School celebrates share of £7.4m grant from EPSRC and DfT
Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) has been named as one of the partners of a new £21.3m national research partnership that is focused on decarbonising the UK maritime sector.
Led by Durham University, the UK National Clean Maritime Research Hub (UK-MaRes Hub) aims to accelerate the decarbonisation and elimination of air pollution from maritime activity in ports and at sea. As well as environmental impacts, the Hub will also focus on the potential economic and social benefits of transitioning to a clean maritime future.
The announcement was made by the UK Government’s Maritime Minister, Baroness Vere of Norbiton, at the London International Shipping Week, and Dr Ioannis Moutzouris, Onassis Senior Lecturer in Shipping Finance and Analytics and Associate Dean for Engagement at Bayes, will be the Co-Investigator leading the “Digitisation, Maritime Operations, and Finance” theme of the project.
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.
The Hub will carry out innovative research in sustainable marine fuels and their safe use, low-carbon power and propulsion systems for shipping, decarbonised port operations and infrastructure, improved maritime operations and vessel efficiency.
The UK-MaRes Hub is a consortium of 13 universities, including researchers from Aston, Bayes, Birmingham, Brighton, Cranfield, Durham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Solent, St Andrews and Ulster universities.
The Hub also brings together over 70 industrial, civic and international organisations as project partners, including shipping companies, ports, equipment and service providers, fuel producers and civic bodies.
Key elements of the Hub will be the Clean Maritime Research Partnership, which will work with partners across the maritime sector to co-create future research activity, a Clean Maritime Network+, with activity across the UK to share knowledge and best practice, and a Clean Maritime Policy Unit to provide advice, evidence, and briefings to inform policy.
Dr Moutzouris said:
“I am delighted that this interdisciplinary collaboration will research new and more comprehensive solutions to decarbonise the maritime industry. Along with our partner universities, Bayes and the Costas Grammenos Centre for Shipping, Trade and Finance will contribute our financial, maritime, and energy expertise to help make the Hub a reality. Outcomes from this research will also be used to inform our educational approach when shaping future generations of industry experts and leaders.”