UK Government to Launch Maritime Innovation Hub

The UK Government has announced its intention to launch a new Maritime Innovation Hub, which will be hosted by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), with the mission of ‘accelerating maritime innovation without compromising safety’. 

Launching in April 2026, the Maritime Innovation Hub will offer tailored support to vessel operators, shipbuilders, start-ups, and technology developers seeking to bring novel ideas into safe, real-world operations. 

According to a press statement, ‘Plans for an Innovation Hub were revealed as part of the Department for Transport’s Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy earlier this year, and work is currently underway to ensure the service fully meets the needs of the maritime community’. 

Providing typical use cases for the Hub, the statement says that: 

‘Whether an organisation is working on autonomy, alternative fuels, or smart shipping, experts will guide you through the regulatory journey, from prototype to sea trials, helping generate the evidence needed for approval under frameworks such as MGN 664, MGN 550, and the Workboat Code Edition 3’. 

The Maritime Innovation Hub has set out four core workstreams, which are as follows: 

• Bridge innovation and regulation: supporting maritime innovators to navigate UK and international requirements with a clear, case-managed route to approval, including Alternative Design & Arrangements (ADA), where appropriate.
• Support safe development: providing tailored guidance, from prototype to sea trials, on evidence, safety cases, and compliance, so concepts generate the necessary data needed for the regulatory process.
• Champion innovation and sustainability: supporting technologies that make shipping safer, smarter, and more efficient, driving Net Zero ambitions, boosting economic growth and improving resilience across the maritime sector.
• Enhance and explain the UK maritime offer: positioning the UK as a place to innovate, operate and scale. The Hub will support those already doing business in the UK, flag customers, and those looking for a great place to invest in innovation. The Hub will also advocate for the maritime industry, signposting wider government support and opportunities. 

Innovators that approach and work with the Maritime Innovation Hub will benefit from dedicated account management services in order to streamline approval processes and reduce administrative burdens.

Commenting on the forthcoming Maritime Innovation Hub, MCA Director of UK Customer Maritime Services, Lars Lippuner, said:

“This is an exciting time to be a part of the maritime industry. With the Innovation Hub, we’re strengthening our support for innovators to bring the latest technologies and findings to our shores. 

We are currently building a workforce to help navigate the route to approval while upholding safety and regulatory standards. We cannot wait to see the potential it unlocks, not just for the UK but on an international scale”.

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If you want to be at the cutting edge of maritime innovation, work with Brookes Bell today. We’ve been innovating new approaches to maritime consultancy for over a century. 

Whether you’re looking for marine surveying support, assistance with cargo claims, or anything in between, we’re here to help.

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