UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions
Harnessing the UK’s research and innovation excellence to support and reduce the UK maritime industry’s carbon emissions, through a system-wide approach to develop and implement clean maritime solutions.
From Idea to Reality: Driving Green Maritime Solutions in UK Waters
The UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, funded by the Department for Transport and delivered with Innovate UK, is accelerating the technologies needed to decarbonise maritime sector.
With a proud tradition of maritime innovation, the UK is uniquely positioned to lead the way in embracing cleaner technologies like AI and decarbonisation strategies. The maritime sector is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, in 2023, international shipping was responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than many individual countries, including the UK. In addition, in 2022, UK domestic shipping alone was responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than buses and rail combined. Whilst recognised as a challenging sector to decarbonise due to its diversity of vessels, operations, and international scope, significant progress has been made over recent years.
UK SHORE supports projects across the UK, from Shetland to Cornwall, to develop, test, and deploy cutting-edge solutions. These initiatives not only help reduce emissions but also position the UK as a global leader in green maritime technology, creating high-value jobs and robust supply chains for a sustainable future.
Advancing the UK towards a sustainable maritime future
How the UK SHORE programme is accelerating the UK towards a sustainable maritime future, introducing how the programme supports innovators to develop solutions enabling the sector to transition to become Net Zero.
CMDC6 National Briefing Event
The Future of UK SHORE in 2025
The Department for Transport is holding a briefing event in London on 27 January. This event will provide an opportunity to explore the future of the UK SHORE programme beyond March 2025.
Find out more
How we support
Our funding supports a cleaner freight system, a more environmentally friendly tourism industry, and a net zero maritime sector.
UK National Clean Maritime Research Hub
Bringing together an interdisciplinary consortium of leading UK research organisations – addressing low technology readiness level research challenges in clean maritime. Visit the UK National Clean Maritime Research Hub.
Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition
Funding early and mid-stage innovation, over multiple rounds, across a range of maritime technologies for both vessels and ports – developing the solutions and partnerships needed to deliver real change over the mid to long term. View CMDC winners.
Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure
Funding closer to market technologies that can deliver solutions now – funding long-term, real-world operational demonstrations of scalable clean maritime solutions. View ZEVI winners.
International Green Corridors Fund
This part of the programme is exploring how we work with neighbouring countries – establishing green shipping corridors to decarbonise international shipping. View IGCF winners.
Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund
Feasibility studies to develop smart shipping technologies such as AI, robotics, and autonomous vessels.– making UK waters safer, operations smoother and air cleaner. View SSAF winners.
OPPORTUNITIES
Related opportunities
For other funding and support relating to UK SHORE and the Maritime industry, please explore our opportunities.
Explore opportunities
CASE STUDIES
Impact stories
The UK SHORE programme is currently funding a range of projects, right across the UK. These business led projects are developing the technologies to decarbonise the UK’s maritime sector and position UK business as global leader in these new technologies. We have created a suite of case studies across some of our current projects, demonstrating real world examples of the innovations and projects currently underway.
Explore case studies
Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition projects overview
Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 1: Project Overview
Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition - round 1 project overview. The following pages present the successes and achievements of 55 innovative clean maritime projects.
Download
Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 2: Project Overview
Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition - round 2 supported the feasibility studies and pre-deployment trials of 31 clean maritime solutions. The competition was launched in May 2022 and ended in August 2023, with £12 million allocated in funding.
Download
Innovate Uk is delighted to work in partnership with Department for Transport to deliver the UK SHORE programme and support the decarbonisation of the UK's maritime sector. This is both a huge challenge and a huge opportunity, one that will create jobs and opportunities all over the UK. The UK has a proud maritime history, and this ambitious programme is helping to drive real change in communities from Shetland and Orkney to Cornwall.
— Neale Ryan | Head of Land and Maritime Transport Innovate UK
Related Events and Recordings
Thu
20
Feb
2025
Wed
19
Mar
2025
Cross-Sector Battery Showcase - Advancing Innovation Across Industries - 2025
08.30 - 16.30 GMT | Leicester
Register for this event
Related programme
Zero emission heavy goods vehicles and infrastructure
Supporting the development, uptake and demonstration of commercially available zero emission HGVs, and providing the crucial infrastructure to help the haulage sector decarbonise and transition to a zero-emission road freight sector in the UK.
SECTOR
Transport
Innovation in transport has the potential to benefit our economy, society and environment. The transport system of the future will be more efficient, cleaner and smarter, through utilising enhanced digital, communication and automated technologies. Read more about the Transport sector and sign up to our newsletter.