The UK government has announced plans to invest £448m in research and development for clean maritime technologies through its UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme between 2026 and 2030.

The Department for Transport said the funding would build on the programme's existing work, which has allocated £240m since 2022 to develop clean maritime technologies across more than 200 projects, leveraging over £110m in direct private investment.

The funding forms part of the government's maritime decarbonisation strategy, published in March, which set out a pathway for the domestic maritime sector to reach zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

UK SHORE has supported over 500 organisations, including more than 250 small and medium enterprises, across all UK nations and regions. The programme has funded development of electric and efficiency solutions for ferries, cargo vessels, and offshore wind vessels, as well as zero and near-zero greenhouse gas emission solutions using hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol.

The second phase of UK SHORE will work with Innovate UK as a delivery partner and focus on four main areas. These include accelerating commercialisation of developed technologies through a second round of the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure competition (ZEVI2) to be launched in 2026, which will fund the build and commercial trial of clean maritime solutions.

The programme will also develop emerging technologies through a seventh round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC7) to be launched in 2026, focusing on real-world demonstration projects concluding in 2030. Two additional rounds will be launched between 2027 and 2029.

Early scientific research of novel technologies will continue through the Clean Maritime Research Hub until at least 2028 in collaboration with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

The programme will also enable development of whole system solutions and penetration of international markets through international research and development, including participation in the global Eureka research programme to conduct pre-deployment trials.

The government said UK SHORE would work to tackle barriers to scaling up technologies and companies supported through the funding, working with Innovate UK, across government, the National Wealth Fund, and the British Business Bank.

The programme aims to advance competitive advantage in clean maritime solutions while complementing wider UK strengths in research and development, including automotive, battery systems, and hydrogen propulsion.

The investment is subject to business case approval and aims to continue funding in each devolved administration and all regions of the UK, supporting growth in coastal communities and manufacturing areas.