Since its formal showcase at the Flag Forum in London on 16 April 2026, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s UK Maritime Innovation Hub has provided a clear route for engagement between industry and the regulator.
The UK Maritime Innovation Hub acts as a single point of entry for innovators seeking to understand regulatory requirements and access expertise across the organisation. It supports technology developers, ship owners and operators across four priority areas
- maritime autonomy (MASS)
- decarbonisation, including energy efficiency and alternative fuels
- digital systems and digitalisation
- nuclear propulsion
In its first three months, the UK Maritime Innovation Hub has seen sustained engagement across its core themes with the numbers of enquiries increasing steadily week on week.
Early interest has been strongest in decarbonisation, alongside continued activity in autonomy and digital technologies. This focus reflects strong ongoing interest in autonomous vessels, the hybrid navy and UK SHORE funding.
The UK Maritime Innovation Hub has supported applicants to the Government’s UK SHORE Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) Round 7 and the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) Round 2 competitions by helping them understand regulatory expectations.
The team has established a presence across the sector through participation in a broad range of events, including Seawork, Posidonia and the UK Flag Forum, as well as wider regional engagement and stakeholder activity.
The UK Maritime Innovation Hub also acts as the primary point of contact for innovative vessel trials in Plymouth Harbour. This provides a structured route for early engagement, linking concept development to testing and regulatory pathways.
Jonty Slater, Assistant Director for the UK Maritime Innovation Hub, said
I’m delighted with the progress we’ve made in the first three months. It’s been particularly rewarding to see the UK Maritime Innovation Hub quickly establish itself as a focal point for maritime innovation, and I’m proud of the team and the effort that has gone into building the service.
This has only been possible with the support of colleagues across the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Department for Transport and wider government, alongside the strong and constructive engagement we’ve seen from industry.
We’re now looking ahead to the next phase, building on these foundations to strengthen how we support innovators and ensure there is a clear and consistent route into the regulatory system.
Read more about the UK Maritime Innovation Hub.
Read more about innovative vessel trials, including Plymouth Harbour.
