Through Round 2 of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC), SEA-KIT International has obtained funds to create a hydrogen-powered, zero-emission Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV).
In a successful CMDC Round 1 project to marinize a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Hydrogen Fuel Cell, clean tech disruptor Bramble Energy collaborated with SEA-KIT. With this most recent round of funding, the two businesses will continue to work together on a proof-of-concept USV design that completely eliminates carbon emissions while meeting the performance, dependability, and cost-saving requirements of a rapidly expanding global marine autonomy market.
An important step towards the commercialization of clean fuel vessel technology will be taken by the “Zero Emission H-Class Ocean USV” project, which is slated to begin in January 2023.
The CMDC2 funding victory supports our ongoing efforts to assist the UK in meeting its emissions targets of reducing carbon from shipping by at least 50% by 2050, according to Ben Simpson, CEO of SEA-KIT. This USV will be appropriate for ROV launch and recovery operations, coastal surveying, and deep water offshore activities. For the offshore energy, defense, and scientific research businesses, the combination of highly capable surveying and inspection instrumentation, better safety from unmanned, remotely operated vessels, and zero carbon emissions will offer a very tempting alternative option.
Based on operating data and input from the company’s well-established X-Class boats, the SEA-KIT H-Class USV is a highly adaptable design. To the greatest extent possible, design work will be done in accordance with the Lloyd’s Register Approval in Principle (AiP) process to guarantee that the eventual unmanned technology will meet regulatory criteria.
“Fuel cells offer an incredibly alluring value proposition to the marine industry, thus it is with great pleasure that we continue working with SEA-KIT on the CMDC project,” stated Vidal Bharath, Chief Commercial Officer at Bramble Energy. It’s the ideal chance to show how our decarbonizing technology may be instrumental in the maritime sector’s effort to reach net zero.
The Department of Transport funded and executed in collaboration with Innovate UK Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 2 (CMDC2), which was launched in May 2022, includes the Zero Emission H-Class Ocean USV project. The Department provided more than £14 million to 31 projects as part of CMDC2 with support from 121 organizations from all over the UK in order to deliver feasibility studies and cooperative R&D initiatives in clean maritime solutions.
The flagship multi-year CMDC initiative of the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) includes CMDC2. The Department of Transport’s allocation of £206 million to UK SHORE, a new division tasked with decarbonizing the maritime industry, in March 2022 was the largest government investment in the history of the UK’s commercial marine industry. Throughout 2022–2025, UK SHORE will implement a number of interventions with the goal of speeding the development, production, and use of clean maritime technology developed in the UK and enabling an industry-led transition to Net Zero.
