The Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s UK Maritime Innovation Hub has celebrated its first three months of operation.
Having received a formal showcase at the Flag Forum in London on 16 April 2026; the Hub has since acted as a single point of entry for companies looking to understand regulatory requirements and access knowledge across the organisation.
Supporting technology developers, ship owners and operators across four main priority areas (maritime autonomy (MASS), decarbonisation, digital systems/digitalisation, and nuclear propulsion); the first three months of the Hub’s operation have seen sustained engagement across each of its core themes, with numbers steadily increasing week on week.
According to the UK Government, early interest has been strongest in decarbonisation, alongside continued activity related to autonomy and digital technologies, reflecting a strong ongoing interest in autonomous vessels, the hybrid navy and UK SHORE funding.
Thus far, the 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 number of events, including Seawork, Posidonia and the UK Flag Forum, as well as wider regional engagement and stakeholder activity.
In addition to its stated duties, the UK Maritime Innovation Hub also acts as the primary point of contact for innovative vessel trials in Plymouth Harbour, providing 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.
