September 2023
Maritime UK Regional Council – 13th September 2023
Regional Round-up
Maritime UK South West, including Cornwall Marine Network (Sheldon Ryan and Paul Wickes)
· Launched Ocean Tech Expo event for 26/27 June 2024 – details available here: https://maritimeuksw.org/ocean-tech-expo-2024/. The event will focus on three broad ocean technology themes: clean maritime, data security, data collection and analysis. Presentations and a range of in sea demos will show how these technologies can increase productivity, security and decarbonise operations across a range of commercial applications focussing on: offshore renewables, defence, fisheries and maritime operations.
· Marine Futures event held on 22 June 2023 at the University Centre at Petroc, North Devon. Circa. 300 businesses, stakeholders and members of the local community present to inform and engage local businesses, schools, teachers, students and parents about the emerging opportunities in exciting new areas such as Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW), green hydrogen and aquaculture.
· Roadshow for Girls event held on 30 June 2023 at the National Maritime Museum, Falmouth and attended by 60 representatives.
· Hosted a Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition update event (CMDC4) in-person on 17 July 2023 in Plymouth. Circa. 80 representatives present.
· Maritime UK SW Innovation, People and Decarbonisation Summit, Bournemouth (01 November 2023) and Plymouth (03 November 2023). More details here: https://maritimeuksw.org/maritime-uk-sw-innovation-people-decarbonisation-summits-bournemouth-1st-nov-plymouth-3rd-nov/
· South West beneficiaries of the Zero Emission Vessel and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition announced during LISW as follows:
o A&P Falmouth. £6.3m to design, build and test and new clean energy shore side power solution suitable for multiple users at the Port of Falmouth.
o The ZENOW project. £5.4m to deploy the world’s largest network of electric workboats across the south coast. More here: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/5-4million-project-aims-to-develop-world-s-largest-network-of-electric-workboats
· Cluster is engaged in inputting to regulations around autonomy (DBT Pioneer Regulation Contract).
· Cornwall Marine Network (CMN) SME business support paper has been sent to Maritime UK for consideration as the RCDP programme develops.
· CMN are seeking to commission a workforce development plan for FLOW (floating offshore wind).
Mersey Maritime (Ruth Wood)
· Personnel changes with effect from 01 July 2023 following the departure of Chris Shirling-Rooke to become CEO of Maritime UK. Ruth Wood appointed as Interim CEO. Further details here: https://merseymaritime.co.uk/mersey-maritime-announces-ruth-wood-as-interim-ceo/
· The fifth ‘Mersey Maritime Exchange’ Conference was held on 22nd June 2023 at the Tung Auditorium, part of the University of Liverpool. The event included a contribution from the Maritime Minister, Baroness Vere, and focused on innovation, decarbonisation, skills and digital technology. Roundup of the event available here: https://merseymaritime.co.uk/maritime-exchange-sets-the-future-agenda-for-uk-maritime-sector/
· Future membership priorities. Engagement in the form of a survey has been undertaken with existing Mersey Maritime members to ascertain their priorities for the future and what activity / focus they wish to see the cluster undertake.
· The regular programme of Mersey Maritime events since the last meeting of the Regional Council has included the following:
o ‘Fireside Chat’ event with the First Sea Lord, 26 May 2023 (Liverpool).
o Battle of the Atlantic Memorial Weekend celebrations / commemorations, 27 May 2023 (Liverpool).
o Face-to-Face networking event with Peel Ports Group (https://www.peelports.com/), 06 June 2023 (Titanic Hotel, Liverpool).
o Meet the Buyer event with Peel Ports Group, 06 June 2023 – as part of the Port City Innovation Hub project.
o Executive Club networking drinks, 29 June 2023.
o Face-to-Face networking event focused on the future work of Mersey Maritime, 04 July 2023.
o CMDC4 event as part of the wider national series, 18 July 2023.
o Face-to-Face networking event with RS Clare (https://www.rsclare.com/), 05 September 2023.
· London International Shipping Week engagement:
o 12 September 2023: Mersey on the Thames event hosted by Mike Kane MP, Shadow Maritime Minister at the House of Commons.
o 14 September 2023: part of the MUK Regional Showcase event at the Global Maritime Hub with contributions from Cammell Laird, Peel Ports, LCR Freeport.
· Mersey Maritime Industry Awards 2023. The ninth iteration of this key event in the Mersey Maritime programme will take place on 02 November 2023 at Liverpool Cathedral. All details here: https://merseymaritime.co.uk/mmia23/. Finalists announced on 11/09/23: https://merseymaritime.co.uk/mersey-maritime-announces-2023-award-finalists/
· Engaging with a range of partners in the region on maritime related projects including: Connected Places Catapult, University of Liverpool (AI day), RWE Renewables (supply chain work at new sites).
Humber Marine and Renewables (Iain Butterworth)
· Iain Butterworth is the recently appointed new Chair of Humber Marine and Renewables, having taken over from Andrew Oliver who has now stepped down. New board members were announced in early September 2023, full details here: https://www.humber-marine-renewables.co.uk/weve-announced-our-new-board/
· Humber Freeport launched in July 2023 with an ambition to attract 7,000 jobs through investment opportunities in the region: https://www.humber-marine-renewables.co.uk/humber-freeport-opens-for-business-with-ambition-to-attract-industrial-investment-creating-7000-jobs/
· HM&R flagship event, Offshore Wind Connections, successfully delivered in May 2023. 300+ attendees were present, include both the conference and exhibition itself and a ‘Humber Renewables Award Dinner’. Details of Awards event here: https://www.business-live.co.uk/sponsored/winners-crowned-humber-renewables-awards-26847786
· HM&R ambitions for the future:
o Build on the establishment of a ‘satellite office’ in Scarborough.
o Develop activity more generally in the North Yorkshire area.
o Engagement ambition around promotion of industry careers.
· Events activity:
o Global Offshore Wind (London) – 14 June 2023.
o Summer networking event (Beverley) – 29 June 2023.
o Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4 briefing / networking event (online) - 25 July 2023.
o ‘New Term - New Direction!’ event for members with contributions from AbleUK and Whitby Maritime Hub - 07 September 2023.
o Member event with OPS Wind (Offshore Painting Services) – 21 September 2023.
o HM&R members will be present as part of a trade mission to the Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference, 28/29 November 2023, Amsterdam.
Maritime UK Solent (Stuart Baker and Lorna Wagner)
· Maritime UK Solent Awards will be held on 05 October 2023. Event is sold out. Sponsorship has been challenging, but it is expected that the event will deliver a small surplus. More here: https://muksolent.com/muksolent-awards-2023/
· Wetwheels Foundation (who presented to the September 2023 MUK Regional Council) were the MUK Solent charity partner for 2022/23. More here: https://wetwheelsfoundation.org/
· Charity partner for 2023/24 is Portsmouth Sail Training Trust. More here: www.portsmouthsailtrainingtrust.org
· MUK Solent Investment Showcase to be held on the afternoon of 14 September 2023 after the MUK Regional Showcase event at LISW. Will include a keynote address by the Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP, pitches from a range of Solent based maritime businesses and engagement with potential national / international investors.
· MUK Solent network has now grown to over 850 people.
· Recent trade delegation activity has included with the United States and Indonesia. Consideration is being given to how this might be turned into a commercial opportunity for the cluster.
· Recruitment will shortly be underway for a new Chair of MUK Solent. This will be completed over the coming months.
· ‘5G Innovation Regions’ application submitted to HM Government via the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (worth £3.8million). More background here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/5g-innovation-regions
· MUK Solent will be present at the Southampton International Boat Show (15-24 September 2023). To include a specific careers day and fair, a MUK Solent Awards finalists’ reception, and a MUK Solent business network meeting.
· End of September 2023 visit planned to Halifax, Nova Scotia as part of the ‘Halifax Partnership’ (Halifax is 'sistered' with Portsmouth). Will include a focus on maritime innovation centres. Support being offered to businesses with an interest in attending.
· Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure competition (ZEVI) outcomes were very positive for the Solent region with over £32m out of the overall £80m funding available awarded to Solent businesses.
· Hosting the Maritime UK ‘Maritime Roadshow for Girls’ on 29 September 2023 at QinetiQ.
· Review underway of ‘Glass AI’ data around maritime businesses for network building in the region.
Scottish Maritime Cluster (Duncan Cunningham and Brian Fulton)
· Recruitment of a new member of the SMC team, Blair Moglia, as Business Support Officer. Blair previously worked for CalMac, and also now works jointly with CMAL.
· Recent member event hosted aboard HMS Prince of Wales on 22nd June 2023.
· Hosted a successful joint 'Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition 4 update/networking event' on 31 July 2023 in collaboration with Maritime UK and partners.
· Successful networking reception held as part of London International Shipping Week (11/09) at HM Treasury with contributions from Fiona Hyslop MSP, Richard Holden MP, Lord Offord and SMC Chair, Kevin Hobbs. The event was sponsored by Denholm Group, DNV, Port of Aberdeen and Seapeak.
· Ghana Maritime and Blue Economy meeting (delivered by the Scottish African Business Association) on 21 September 2023. SMC will support this event.
· Decarbonisation conference planned for 12 October 2023, joint with Scottish Enterprise. Other regions welcome to attend. This event will focus on the Scottish Enterprise report on decarbonisation in Maritime which can be found here: https://www.evaluationsonline.org.uk/evaluations/Search.do?ui=basic&action=showPromoted&id=817
· SMC internal organisational matters: four new members in the pipeline; exploring links with the aquaculture sector; AGM will be held in December 2023.
Northern Ireland Maritime & Offshore Network / Belfast Maritime Consortium (David Tyler, Kerry Muldoon, Sharon Cousins)
· Work to build the Northern Ireland Maritime and Offshore Network (‘NIMO’) continues with the support of Invest NI and wider partners. Focus is on growth opportunities, skills, clean maritime.
· Engagement with the network is fairly inward focussed at present whilst the network develops and the workstreams are developed. 40 businesses are engaged (half of whom are SMEs).
· Hosted a Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4 networking event on 27 July 2023 (in-person in Belfast).
· Successful Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition bids (strand 1) confirmed as follows:
o Electric Orkney project. Orkney Ferries partnering with Artemis Technologies and The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) have a vision to help decarbonise inter-island transport through the commissioning of two Artemis 100% electric foiling vessels, and associated charging infrastructure in one of Europe's harshest maritime locations. Overall project grant is worth £15.5m (value to Artemis Technologies £4m).
o Artemis Technologies part of a Tidal Transit Ltd (based in the East of England) led consortium project to retrofit 20m Mercurio crew transfer vessels to become 100% electric. Overall project grant is £6.3m (with the majority to Tidal Transit Ltd; value to Artemis is £75,000). Artemis Technologies involvement is with the provision of onshore charging infrastructure.
o Full details of the above and other ZEVI projects available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/zero-emission-vessels-and-infrastructure-zevi-competition-winners
· Northern Ireland Investment Summit (12-13 September 2023). Collaborative showcase event between the Department for Business & Trade, Invest Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Office which saw some 200 international investors from across the world present.
· Artemis Technologies (Belfast Maritime Consortium) updates, in addition to the ZEVI competition information above, continues to show strong engagement with apprenticeships: 36 apprentices now working within the company; representing 20% of the overall workforce; focused on composite manufacturing. Considerable interest again this year with 100+ applications for the posts available.
· London International Shipping Week:
o 100% electric workboat, ‘Pioneer of Belfast’, in London during the week: https://www.artemistechnologies.co.uk/news/artemis-technologies-showcases-groundbreaking-100-electric-workboat-to-the-world-at-london-international-shipping-week/
o Engaged with the Maritime UK Regional Showcase event on 14/09/23 with contributions from Artemis Technologies, Belfast Harbour, Harland & Wolff and Kinetsu.
· Team Resolute Supplier Day which held in Belfast on 03 October 2023. More details here: https://www.harland-wolff.com/news/team-resolute-meet-the-buyer-events/
· Invest NI are planning another Maritime Offshore Wind Sector engagement event on 22nd November which will be a forum to highlight the NSO Skills Taskforce Report, network activities, export/OSW opportunities etc. Planning is underway.
South East (Dieter Jaenieke)
· Further cluster development roundtable meeting held on 05 July 2023, hosted by the Port of Dover. Actions circulated and a plan to progress the cluster development here is in place. The session included a presentation from Stuart Baker detailing the Maritime UK Solent development experience.
· Will participate in the LISW Regional Showcase event with presentations from the Port of Dover around their CMDC work in particular and Simon Barnes (University of Kent) giving an overview of SE maritime opportunities.
· Participated in the CMDC Round 4 briefings with an online session held on 25 July 2023.