Six innovators selected for maritime accelerator

Connected Places Catapult has selected six companies for the Clean Transport Accelerator: Maritime, a six-month programme supporting technologies designed to reduce emissions from vessels, ports and shipyards.

Funded by Innovate UK, the programme is being delivered by Connected Places Catapult with the National Shipbuilding Office, Portsmouth International Port, the Port of Tyne and Serco. Participants will also receive industry insights from specialists at Maersk.

“Maritime is the lifeblood of the UK’s trading economy, but achieving net zero across the sector is one of transport’s toughest decarbonisation challenges,” said Sameer Savani, transport managing director at Connected Places Catapult.

The accelerator builds on four years of the Catapult’s Maritime Accelerator programme, which has supported 29 SMEs and delivered 11 trials. Its latest programme focuses specifically on decarbonisation, future fuels and electrification.

Participants will receive tailored commercial support and can apply for up to £30,000 to deliver a four-month trial with a programme partner. Three companies will ultimately progress to trials, gaining access to industry expertise, facilities and testing environments.

The six selected businesses are developing solutions across vessel design, composite construction, port operations, carbon management, clean energy and underwater inspection.

Compute Maritime is developing NeuralShipper, a generative artificial intelligence tool intended to help naval architects and shipyards create higher-performing, lower-emission vessels more quickly.

Discovery Technologies is developing D-COMP, a lightweight composite boat-building solution positioned as an alternative to conventional e-glass and carbon-fibre composites. MapBI is developing a digital twin platform for port and terminal yards to track and optimise cargo, vehicle and equipment movements in real time.

MCG is developing a carbon visibility platform designed to help industrial companies verify emissions and reduce costs, while PowerUp Off-Grid Services is developing containerised clean-energy systems intended to replace fossil-fuel generators while retaining their operational flexibility.

Subworx is developing a patented underwater inspection system designed to help operators assess hull integrity, support proactive maintenance and extend vessel life.