Grant awarded to develop new clean maritime technology for reducing emissions as part of UK SHORE program – Sea News

The UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) has launched a series of interventions, including the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) Round 4. The CMDC Round 4 has awarded a grant to Anemoi Marine Technologies (Anemoi) to fund practical demonstrations, trials, and feasibility studies on clean maritime technologies. These technologies aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The funding covers a £1.9m project and will allow Anemoi to develop and test a new 3.5m diameter by 24.5m high Rotor Sail design. It funds the design activities, building, and testing of the demonstrator for the innovative new drive system, which will be manufactured by test rig experts, Pressure Design Hydraulics Ltd, and housed at VINCI Technology Centre. Of the total project costs, Anemoi is eligible for over £1.2m.

Anemoi continues to have much success with its commercially proven 5m diameter Rotor Sails (available now in heights of 24m, 30m and 35m) with installations on Kamsarmax and VLOC vessels. The 3.5m diameter Rotor Sail will be well suited for mid-range vessels, such as Handysize and Ultramax bulkers, chemical and product tankers, and RoRos. The grant will enable Anemoi to assess the performance of its new design in a safe and controlled environment close to its UK design offices. By expanding Anemoi’s product range, even more vessels can make use of wind propulsion, helping to make a bigger difference to the shipping industry as it continues its decarbonisation journey.

Thanks to Anemoi’s background in the bulker segment, the company already has experience with mid-range vessels. Its pilot installation on the m/v Afros, an Ultramax vessel, has sailed successfully for six years. The vessel was installed with Rotor Sails on Anemoi’s unique longitudinal rail deployment system. This rail deployment system, which allows the Rotor Sails to be moved along the deck to ensure cargo operations are unimpacted, will be retained for the new 3.5 x 24.5m Rotor Sails as driven by vessel requirements.

The year-long 3.5m development project will be further strengthened by numerous partners, each specialising in distinct elements. Dynamics analysis will be undertaken by project partner Frazer-Nash Consultancy, which will support the development of the demonstrator. A regulation and certification assessment will be led by Stehr Consulting Ltd in collaboration with Lloyd’s Register. UK-based vessel operator and project partner Victoria Steamship will assist by providing vital insights into the needs of stakeholders. Market research and UK supply chain analysis will be conducted by Connected Places Catapult, which will help Anemoi quantify the market opportunity for establishing a UK manufacturing operation to serve European and Transatlantic markets. Lastly, Connected Places Catapult will conduct a feasibility study into the benefits of the combined integration of Future Fuels and Rotor Sail technology, reinforcing the importance of Rotor Sails in the decarbonisation of shipping. These diverse collaborative endeavours are key to accelerating progress in the development and implementation of energy-saving technology within the shipping industry.

Kim Diederichsen, Chief Executive Officer of Anemoi, commented, “We are thrilled to be selected for this valuable grant to build the demonstrator, which will continue to propel our commitment to sustainable maritime solutions. All thanks to the hard work of the team, Anemoi showcased the importance of our work to UK SHORE. We aim not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime industry but also to chart a course towards innovation, collaboration, and positive environmental impact on a global scale.”

Keir Gravil, Business Manager at Frazer-Nash Consultancy, commented: “CMDC is a fantastic opportunity for companies to showcase their technical innovation, and Frazer-Nash is very pleased to be a project partner to Anemoi’s CMDC project, being able to demonstrate our extensive technical capability and expertise in this exciting market.”

This project is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4 (CMDC4), funded by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered by Innovate UK. CMDC4 is part of the Department’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, a £206m initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonise the UK domestic maritime sector.