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      How can the Natural Environment Research Council help you tackle sustainable maritime challenges?

      About NERC

      The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is the UK's leading public funder of environmental science. We invest public money in world-leading science, designed to help us sustain and benefit from our natural resources, predict and respond to natural hazards and understand environmental change. NERC wants to develop stronger relationships with both academics and businesses to make sure research and innovation can support the challenges you are facing. 

      NERC has a proud history of supporting researchers in identifying the issues that coastal and maritime communities in the UK face in a changing planet. For over 50 years NERC scientists have increased understanding of the environmental challenges facing these communities and are continually developing solutions to address them.

      NERC supports a wide range of research and innovation relevant to the maritime sector, in areas ranging from autonomous technologies to supporting the transition to Net Zero. In the article below we outline examples of how NERC-funded research has delivered benefits to the sector, and how you can engage with NERC’s Futures team to understand how environmental science can help you.

      Developing autonomous underwater technology

      Compact, low-cost marine vehicles which can gather data autonomously are proving a game-changer in clean-up, maintenance and many other sea-based operations. Central to their emergence has been the close, productive partnership forged between the NERC-supported National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and industry. NOC’s role in this partnership is spearheaded by the Marine Robotics Innovation Centre (MRIC), which provides emerging firms with space, facilities and opportunities to harness NOC expertise, and the Marine Autonomous Robotic Systems (MARS) team, specialists in developing, operating and maintaining marine-science vehicles.

      "We find within this openly proactive business cohort every opportunity to rub shoulders with associated marine industry innovators, developers, and operators, including current and future business partners.” Thales UK

      The tide of success stories coming out of MRIC includes AutoNaut Ltd. AutoNaut Ltd. joined as a small company but expanded quickly and attributes £1.5 million of its growth, directly or indirectly, to its engagement with NOC. After developing a prototype vehicle supported by a NERC-supported Small Business Research Initiative competition, the company produced a bigger version for international markets which has already seen use in BP projects and the Big Ocean Clean Up. According to the firm, without early, continued support from MRIC, it’s unlikely that AutoNaut Ltd would have gone on to become the commercially viable company it now is. NERC continues to actively invest in this space: exemplified by the recent investment in an unmanned surface vehicle for shallow and coastal areas which will assist in predictions of global sea level rise, funded in 2020 through NERC’s capital investment funding call.

      Conscious that capital investment is best complemented with capability building, NERC also continues to fund the Next Generation Unmanned Systems Science (NEXUSS) Centre for Doctoral Training. This initiative aims to develop the next generation of future science leaders in this area, as well as promoting knowledge exchange through placements at international research organisations and industrial and policy partners.

      Sensing change in the marine environment

      Digital technologies and associated data methodologies are fundamental to shaping the future of the maritime space; improving capability in areas from environmental monitoring to decision making. Accordingly, NERC funds a number of digital projects in this area, including a strong portfolio of active projects which consider the role of next generation sensors. For example, to combat the impacts of sea level rise on coastal and port defences,  Coastal REsistance: Alerts and Monitoring Technologies (CreamT) seeks to develop sensors monitoring wave overtopping on seawalls and collect data on waves entering public access areas. Meanwhile, underwater sensors have been used in multiple ways; for example, Underwater large-area high resolution monitoring by Distributed Optical Fibre Acoustic Sensors is using Optical Fibre Acoustic Sensors to detect, locate and quantify acoustic noise sources such as that of gas escaping through the seabed (particularly of relevance to sub-seabed carbon capture and storage).

      Understanding Net Zero Oceanographic Capability

      The drive to Net Zero is a priority for many organisations in the maritime sector, as exemplified by recent announcements from major companies such as Maersk. UKRI shares this goal with the objective of becoming a carbon neutral organisation by 2040. In line with this ambition, NERC is seeking to identify the options for maintaining and enhancing its ocean science capability with a reduced carbon footprint. To underpin this ambition, NERC recently supported a forward-looking scoping study to move towards a net-zero oceanographic capability. In addition to informing the drivers, trends and needs of future oceanographic research, the project sought to understand the commercial technology landscape and identify the opportunities for NERC, as a vessel owner and operator.

      The project recently delivered its final report, presenting key findings on a number of topics including energy efficiency measures, green fuels and autonomous systems. The report highlighted areas where emissions can be reduced by driving energy efficiency, with “route optimisation, hull form optimisation, wind assistance technologies, advanced hull coatings…, use of green shore electrical supplies and even sustainable food policies” potentially reducing NERC vessels’ CO2e footprint by up to 25%.

      The report echoed many of the challenges and opportunities described in this newsletter; including how to make best use of the parallelisation enabled by ‘swarms’ of autonomous vehicles, how to support next-generation training for digitally-enabled, net-zero infrastructure, how to integrate of new sensor technologies into wider data platforms and how to redesign vessels to accommodate the increased fuel volumes associated with ammonia or hydrogen fuels. NERC is considering these and other findings to deliver a net zero oceanographic capability.

      Whether you are looking to deploy the latest marine autonomous systems, understand how data can inform your decision-making, or reduce your organisation’s emissions, NERC is keen to engage with Maritime UK members. Please email futures(at)nerc.ukri.org and we can explore how environmental science can inform, support and grow your business, and help you overcome the sustainability challenges of the future.

      You can also visit our website (https://nerc.ukri.org/) for more information on funding opportunities, events and success stories.

      News

      494196307_1278896414237664_3844473987655010804_n.jpg
      9 July 2025

      NOC Awarded £2.6 Million to Investigate Expanding Ocean Desertification

      Scientists at the UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) are leading a new, five-year funded project to investigate the alarming expansion of ocean…

      7 July 2025

      Hypermotive X-M1 Wins Hydrogen Breakthrough Technology of the Year

      2 July 2025

      Babcock Delivering Defence Dividend Blueprint for Regional Regeneration

      SEE MORE NEWS

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      15 Jul
      15 Jul 2025, 12:30 – 15:30

      Defence Attaché Luncheon

      The Society of Maritime Industries will once again be hosting the overseas naval attachés & advisers based in London for a reception and buffet luncheon.
      03 Sep
      3 Sep 2025, 10:30 – 16:30

      SMI WWG Annual Seminar 2025

      SMI is delighted to announce the Annual Workboat Working Group (WWG) Seminar, bringing together stakeholders from across the UK’s workboat and coastal vessel community for a full day of expert...
      09 Sep
      9 Sep 2025 – 12 Sep 2025

      DSEI 2025

      Held at the easy to access ExCel exhibition centre every two years SMI has secured space in DSEI’s Naval Zone to support member companies.  The Naval Zone at DSEI is an interactive...
      16 Sep
      16 Sep 2025, 10:00 – 13:30

      Navigating the Future: Maritime Autonomy, Innovation & Opportunity

      MASG Council LISW Autonomy Event
      18 Sep
      18 Sep 2025, 10:00 – 16:00

      Global Maritime Connections Meet the Buyer

      The Department for Business and Trade (DBT), in partnership with the Society of Maritime Industries (SMI) and Seatrade Maritime, is pleased to present Global Maritime Connections, a high-impact Meet...
      21 Oct
      21 Oct 2025 – 24 Oct 2025

      KORMARINE 2025

      KORMARINE is the largest and most prestigious marine trade exhibition, fully supported by the world’s biggest Shipbuilders in Korea as well as leading international shipowners and offshore...
      04 Nov
      4 Nov 2025 – 6 Nov 2025

      Indo Pacific 2025

      Attracting industry professionals from around Australia, the region and the world, Indo Pacific 2025 will see key players from the maritime and naval defence communities come together for three days...
      07 Nov
      7 Nov 2025 – 10 Nov 2025

      Europort 2025

      Europort, organised in the world port city of Rotterdam, is the international maritime meeting place for innovative technology and complex shipbuilding. With an average of 25,000 professional...
      02 Dec
      2 Dec 2025 – 5 Dec 2025

      Marintec China 2025

      Launched for over 40 years, Marintec China has become renowned as one of the most authoritative B2B platform for the International Maritime Industry. The 2023 edition of this biennial event...
      25 Mar
      25 Mar 2026 – 27 Mar 2026

      Asia Pacific Maritime (APM) 2026

      APM (Asia Pacific Maritime) is the premier exhibition and conference in Asia showcasing a complete overview of the vessel sectors services and solutions, technology, vessel equipment, supplies, and...
      31 Mar
      31 Mar 2026 – 1 Apr 2026

      Ocean Connect Asia 2026

      Ocean Connect Asia presents a regional meeting point to bring together the converging worlds of autonomy, robotics and uncrewed based solutions for the ocean and coastal economies. As the...
      01 Jun
      1 Jun 2026 – 5 Jun 2026

      POSIDONIA 2026

      Posidonia brings the whole shipping world to its exhibitors. The international shipping community attends in strength with national pavilions and thousands of visitors.
      01 Sep
      1 Sep 2026 – 4 Sep 2026

      SMM 2026 (Shipbuilding, Machinery and Marine Technology trade fair)

      When it comes to meeting up with all the leading protagonists of the global maritime industry, there’s no place like SMM, one of the leading international maritime trade fairs. 
      16 Mar
      16 Mar 2027, 09:00 – 18 Mar 2027, 17:00

      Sea Asia 2027

      SMI will once again organise the UK Group Pavilion at Sea Asia in its role as the official Country Pavilion organiser. The event will return, bigger and bolder on 16-18th March 2027. To register...
      SEE MORE Events

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      Marine Autonomy Challenge (MAChallenge)

      This exciting biennial challenge is open to teams of students studying at UK universities.

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