Plymouth’s role as a pioneering place for autonomous marine vessels and green technology has been given a financial boost from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
The consortium led by the Council has been awarded £842,490 under the BEIS’s Regulators’ Pioneer Fund to develop a framework for testing autonomous and prototype maritime vessels for research and development.
The Council will be working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter on the project to create Research and Development regulatory frameworks to guide testing and development of these emerging technologies, including zero emissions propulsion and autonomous vessels.
Businesses can currently test prototypes in wave tanks and laboratories as well as controlled areas within ports. However, there are little guidelines or regulations available for companies wanting to test technology safely on open water.
It is hoped that developing the frameworks in the South West peninsula, which is also home to the Smart Sound Plymouth offshore proving ground, along with the Centre for Future Clean Mobility, will lead to a UK regulatory environment that will encourage innovation and make the UK the best place to start and grow a business.
Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Councillor Mark Shayer said: “The maritime industry is experiencing one of its most innovative periods as it looks to meet net zero targets by 2050 and embraces new technologies such as new propulsion systems, hydrogen powered vessels and autonomous vessels.
“All these require testing but the regulations have not kept pace with advances being made across all these fields.
“Plymouth and Exeter are in an incredible position to help shape future regulations around this exciting sector. Between the two councils we have the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport, we have the University of Plymouth and Plymouth Marine Laboratory, and the Centre for Future Clean Mobility in the University of Exeter all working at the frontier of these new developments.
“In Plymouth we have an incredibly strong maritime and engineering sector exploring alternative propulsion technologies, marine autonomous systems and applications, as well as nationally leading assets such as Smart Sound Plymouth.
“The industry is waking up to the incredible opportunities for autonomous vessels – from academic research, monitoring and mapping to transporting cargo, but we need guidelines to ensure testing can be carried out safely without compromising the needs of business to innovate.
“Plymouth City Council welcomes the funding, it complements our aspirations for higher paid jobs and it is another huge step in our journey in making Plymouth the world centre for marine autonomy innovation and development.”
This project has been made possible by a grant from the £12 million Regulators’ Pioneer Fund launched by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
The fund enables UK regulators and local authorities to help create a UK regulatory environment that unleashes innovation and makes the UK the best place to start and grow a business.
The Council submitted the bid on behalf of the partners and will be the responsible authority.
