October 2022

Northern Ireland – Belfast Maritime Consortium (David Tyler)

  • As host region, the Belfast Maritime Consortium offered a more comprehensive update from a Northern Ireland perspective on current work and future plans.
  • 2018 development activity started with the establishment of the Belfast Maritime Consortium with Artemis Technologies as the lead partner. Strength in Places bid submitted and secured to utilise existing expertise in Northern Ireland within the maritime industry focused on the development of a high-speed passenger ferry. Key message is the creation of high value jobs growth with this specific maritime project being the steppingstone to future opportunities for the country.
  • Investment in current and future skills work has been a major focus with valuable partnership working between the main project and Belfast Met College and the development of a specific apprenticeship course which started last year. 12 apprentices will commence each year (second batch are currently underway) with a focus on standard engineering, electrical systems etc. Challenge of skills in composite manufacturing remains.
  • Expect a ferry service to commence from 2024 between Belfast and Bangor (NI). Build will commence in 2023 – final design is nearly ready but prototype vessel was launched earlier this year. Priority is building market awareness of the opportunity presented and addressing any concerns that might emerge regarding safety which will be crucial for market viability.

·Collaboration on additional spin-off projects has commenced:

  • Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, round 1 – focus on shore power, fuels, hydrogen bunkering.
  • CMDC, round 2 – Belfast Harbour collaboration with focus on decarbonisation of global pilot operations. Hydrogen fuel cell range extender
  • Northern Ireland cluster building opportunity has been gaining momentum in recent months. Strengths within the Belfast Maritime Consortium are clear but there’s a strong wish to open up this opportunity much wider across Northern Ireland. Follow-up to a networking / briefing meeting held in July to be held on 18/10/22 in collaboration with Invest NI and Maritime UK. Over 50 companies have signed up to be part of the session and around 80 or so will be physically present.

Maritime UK Solent (Stuart Baker)

  • Inaugural Maritime UK Solent Awards held on 14 October 2022 in Southampton. Delivered over a short timeframe from start to finish and received a large number of high quality applications across twelve categories which were sponsored by leading businesses within the region. 230 people attended and interest is already well advanced in a similar event in 2023 which will be held in Portsmouth. More here: https://solentlep.org.uk/what-we-do/news/winners-of-the-maritime-uk-solent-awards-2022-announced/
  • MUK Solent is working with the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce on the ‘Solent Local Skills Improvement Plan’. Role for Maritime UK Solent to deliver from a maritime specific focus (with funding).
  • Decarbonisation. Collaboration between ExxonMobil, the University of Southampton and Solent LEP around the establishment of a ‘decarbonisation cluster’ with a focus on hydrogen opportunities. Cluster will take a lead in bidding for carbon capture / storage funding opportunities and engage in profile building via the establishment of a website and stakeholder mapping. Funding for the project via ExxonMobil who recognise the critical need on the journey to net zero.
  • National Shipbuilding Office. Maritime UK Solent convened a roundtable for interested members who were struggling / expressing concerns around gaining traction regarding the NSO. Key personnel (Rex Cox and Rod Paterson) undertook an engagement meeting with key MUK Solent members, including Ocean Infinity who had approached the cluster for assistance.
  • Planning underway for a Department for Transport regional visit in January 2023 when the Maritime UK Regional Council is hosted by MUK Solent on 24 January 2023.
  • Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 3 industry networking and update event held on 05 October 2022, hosted by BAR Technologies and co-ordinated by MUK Solent with Department for Transport, Innovate UK and Innovate UK-KTN partners. Strong turnout and engagement and consortia opportunities emerging.
  • MUK Solent Board workshop for future sustainability and development of the cluster has been held. Focus on commercialisation of the MUK Solent model, possibility of provision of consultancy services (e.g. CMDC project/funding bid support). Mersey Maritime has assisted with sharing of best practice model ideas.
  • Strong engagement with Maritime UK week across the region (the MUK Solent Awards being part of this) but also including an open day hosted by Portsmouth International Port for members of the public and UKSA offering a half-day open day covering their programmes to inspire and support young people seeking to broaden their horizons through water-based activities. More here: https://solentlep.org.uk/what-we-do/news/maritime-uk-week-celebrated-by-series-of-events-in-solent/
  • International / FDI activity underway or planned with a business district in Turku, Finland, ongoing relationship building in Finland (following the signing of an MOU earlier in the year – includes the possibility of a delegation to ‘Navigate in Finland’ in 2024) and probable maritime engagement with Halifax Nova Scotia via Portsmouth City Council.

Mersey Maritime (Chris Shirling-Rooke)

  • Preparations for the Mersey Maritime Industry Awards 2022 (full details here) have been a major focus of activity over this period with the usual promotion of applications, the judging process, filming of videos for finalists, promotion of finalists and all the other administrative activity that goes into supporting this major event in our calendar, the 8th iteration of them. The event takes place on 10 November 2022 at Liverpool Cathedral – in our 20th anniversary year and will, without question, be our biggest ever with nearly 70 tables now sold. Key activity and news releases around the event can be access here (the launch of the awards was covered in our last report).
  • Regular schedule of networking Face-2-Face continues to be delivered. Most recently with: 05 July 2022 – Hill Dickinson. 02 August 2022 - Members’ Forum: AWP Marine, SEP Hydrographic and Steam Tug Kerne. 06 September 2022 – Royal Navy.
  • Other key events and engagement: Port City Innovation Hub (PCiH) project / activity – presentation to their project promotion networking event on 06 July 2022. Technology and Innovation Forum delivered in partnership with Getronics, Verizon (telecommunications) and PCiH at the Getronics data centre on 12 July 2022. Networking afternoon on behalf of Mersey Maritime sponsor, IODM on 14 July 2022.
  • We have been pleased to strengthen the Mersey Maritime Board further with the appointment of Commodore Phil Waterhouse, Regional Commander for the North, Royal Navy. This announcement was received in very popular terms amongst regular and social media channels. The appointment is part of a wider evolution and refresh of the Board team. More details here: https://merseymaritime.co.uk/mersey-maritime-welcomes-senior-naval-commander-to-its-board-of-directors/
  • Political engagement activities: A dedicated ‘Stakeholder Briefing’ document was issued on 19 July 2022 (our third such publication) to all North West MPs, all councillors in the Liverpool City Region (and Warrington and Cheshire West & Chester), Chief Executives of local/regional authorities, elected mayors and key government officials. This briefing document covered the latest ‘State of the Maritime Region Report’; coverage of the 4th Mersey Maritime Exchange Conference (23/06/22) and a forward look to the MMIA22. Labour Party Conference 2022. This conference was held in Liverpool this year and, partnering with Maritime UK, we were pleased to hold a special brunch ‘Maritime Briefing’ event on 25 September 2022. Shadow Minister, Mike Kane MP, was supportive of the event and we were joined by several local Labour MPs and an MSP. Mersey Maritime supported Maritime UK activity at the Conservative Party Conference on 02 October 2022, with Chris Shirling-Rooke giving the opening remarks at the event. This was followed by a ministerial roundtable, hosted by PD Ports. 
  • Miscellaneous: Mersey Maritime was pleased to host the 07 September 2022 meeting of the MUK National Council in Birkenhead and a dinner for partners and sponsors with Board members the previous evening. Completion of the Connected Places Catapult (CPC) initiative, ‘Moving on the Mersey’. This project has now concluded in terms of the first phase, with the report and findings now released. The main focus of the work being around whether we are moving things around the region as efficiently as possible / what can be improved. Discussions are underway around how this relationship might further develop in the future. In line with Mersey Maritime’s role as lead on the Regional Growth programme, activity has been maintained and intensive over the course of this quarter. Specific focus has been on SE cluster development work; Northern Ireland cluster development work; regular updates and liaison with DfT officials; planning, preparation and delivery of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition events around the country, amongst other things. Chris Shirling-Rooke attended the Atlantic Futures Forum in the USA in late September, moderating a panel session and representing the region as part of the wider international trade mission. Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition. In a diversion from Mersey Maritime’s usual ‘Face-2-Face’ activity on the first Tuesday of each month, a CMDC briefing event (in line with others held in-person and online around the country) was held on 04 October 2022 at the Maritime Knowledge Hub. The event heard from representatives of the Department for Transport, Innovate UK and Innovate UK KTN, together with a strong selection of Mersey Maritime member businesses.

Maritime UK South West, including Cornwall Marine Network (Sheldon Ryan and Paul Wickes, CMN)

  • Clean maritime activity. Hosted a CMDC networking and industry update event on 03 October 2022 with 50 attendees in the room and 35 online. Three CMDC round 2 projects have been announced for consortia partnerships in the South West.
  • Representation at the Sea Tech Week conference at the Brest Expo, France (26-30 September 2022).
  • Ongoing industry focus on deliverability of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. Conference to be held over 9-10 November 2022. 140 members, including MUK South West are part of this cluster group.
  • Autonomy. 21 October 2022 – HRH The Princess Royal to launch the ‘National Centre for Coastal Autonomy’. Follow-up here: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/national-centre-for-coastal-autonomy-unlocks-radical-new-capabilities-for-coastal-science
  • Smart Sound, Plymouth. £1.8m 5G and 4G test area investment confirmed.
  • £1m investment in subsea communications network.
  • Bid submitted to ‘Pioneer Fund’ (BEIS). MCA regulation around autonomy and clean maritime. Await the outcome
  • Opportunity to engage with the Marine Tech Expo, Summer 2023.
  • Expression of Interest submitted to the Innovate UK ‘Launchpad Fund’ (as part of the Ocean Futures Programme). Fund has a maximum value per bid of £1 million over 6 months or 18 months. Up to £7.5 million understood to be available for regions. Further details here: https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/1342/overview/d14a3fa1-a6df-4aa7-9438-2e0b1777bf83
  • Aquaculture cluster AGM to be held on 20 October 2022.

Cornwall Marine Network

  • October 2022 saw a 20th anniversary celebration of the work of CMN at RNAS Culdrose. 120 members were present to reflect on the achievements of CMN over this period and to look to the future.  More details: https://cornwallmarine.net/news/cornwall-marine-network-celebrates-20-years-of-marine-sector-support-with-special-event-at-rnas-culdrose
  • Update statistics on CMN impact released as follows: £42million of project support competitively won and delivered which has resulted in training delivered to more than half the entire marine workforce of Cornwall who have received training / upskilling support (8,750 employees of 16,000). 105 members volunteer as marine ambassadors within the network, providing careers advice to local schools. 52 current members of staff offering expert mentoring and grant support services. 35,000 young people aged 14 to 16 years have received careers advice since 2008. 810 unemployed people have been supported to find jobs.  4,000 young people have undertaken vocational work experience. 1,500 new apprenticeships facilitated, all in SMEs. A total of 4,375 new jobs created in Cornwall. Direct correlation demonstration between work of CMN and jobs/growth in local sector. On average, for every day that CMN has been operational, a new job has been created somewhere in the county. £500million of added value to the Cornwall economy through CMN work with member businesses. 
  • Ambition for the next three years: launch a range of commercial services, e.g. recruitment for SMEs. Temping agency. Low cost and fixed fees. Expand careers advice and employability support for young people. An apprenticeships delivery deal has been signed. Launch employer based training academies which would also be available to a wider base within the industry, including in marine engineering, pneumatics and hydraulics. Commitment to developing the overall green skills agenda.
  • Armed Forces Covenant signed at anniversary event.

Scotland (Duncan Cunningham)

  • Participated in the national Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition industry update / networking events on 11 October 2022 (online). A recording of the session is available to view here: https://youtu.be/5wz9YsML5nM
  • Seminar event for members planned for 20 October 2022 focused on ‘Is there a place for molten core reactor solutions in maritime?’ at Glasgow City College. Speakers: Douglas Lang, Mark Tipping (Lloyds Register), Giulio Gennaro (Core Power) and John Hudson (MarRI-UK).
  • Strathclyde University have joined the Scottish Maritime Cluster (SMC).
  • Ongoing monthly meetings take place with Scottish Enterprise and Transport Scotland.
  • Working closely with Scottish Enterprise on the possibility of a trade delegation to Singapore and an inward investment mission from countries in Scandinavia.
  • Development of the SMC is ongoing with a five member working team engaged in earnest with sustainability planning for the future activities. Website enhancement and refresh activity is underway (https://www.scottishmaritimecluster.com/).

Humber (Camilla Carlbom Flinn)

  • Team Humber Marine Alliance and Grimsby Renewables Partnership merger to form Humber Marine and Renewables has been completed. A new Board of Directors is in place, with the merger having taken around 12 months to complete. More details here: https://www.humber-marine-renewables.co.uk/humber-marine-and-renewables-is-launched-marking-a-new-chapter-for-the-region-and-supply-chain
  • North East Lincolnshire Council are providing some part-time support to HM&R to assist with programme delivery and work streams.
  • Participating in an Enterprise Singapore delegation to Humber (in collaboration with the Department for International Trade), 27/09/22.
  • A number of events held for members (or open to members over this most recent period of activity), including: Business health check event for members – 27/09/22 - hosted by Wilkin Chapman Solicitors. Members Networking Event – 29/09/22 – visit to CorrBoard UK (independent sheet feeding specialists based in Scunthorpe). Meet the Member Networking Event – 06/10/22 - with Bacon Engineering and Semco Maritime.

North East (Charlie Nettle)

  • Wide interest in the establishment of a regional cluster organisation focused on the North East but currently at the start of the journey. Looking at ways to maximise the possibilities from existing networks (such as the Tees & Hartlepool Port Users’ Association which has a membership of 65 businesses / organisations). Considering a model that would create a cluster ‘over the top’ of the port users’ association to ensure independence and avoid diluting the objects and membership of the THPUA.
  • Keen to make more progress in the coming months with the possibility of a formal proposal being deliverable from early 2023 and look at ways to engage fully with wider Maritime UK activity going forward.
  • Much activity has been underway around the establishment of the Teesside Freeport which at 4,500 acres will be the largest in the UK. Aspiration to create 18,000 jobs and provide a £3.2 billion boost to the local economy over the next five years. Policy, principle and process seems to be very positive but there’s a need to consider how the detail works out in practice going forward although the first cargo has been through the Freeport and utilised the customs benefits that it presents.