Solent's Maritime Sector on board with Green Recovery

Pioneering innovation and a clear desire to bring about change in the maritime industry were the focus of a virtual event convened by the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Maritime UK Solent, of the region's MPs, local government leaders and key industry figures.

The event, which was the third in a series Maritime UK sessions being delivered across the UK, highlighted how the Solent's maritime cluster is supporting the delivery of the Government's Ten Point Plan for A Green Industrial Revolution and explored how politicians, research and industry can work together to share expertise and deliver ambitions to ensure the maritime sector achieves net zero.

Paul Holmes, MP for Eastleigh, chaired the event for regional MPs and councillors to hear from the Solent's maritime sector about their flagship decarbonisation projects, including Carnival UK, Carisbrooke Shipping, Portsmouth International Port, Associated British Ports (ABP) and Wightlink.

Paul Holmes MP said: “The Solent’s maritime industries are world renowned and I was thrilled to learn more about the innovative ways that local businesses are becoming greener and reducing their carbon footprint. The UK Government is committed to reaching Net Zero by 2050 and with the leadership being shown in the Solent, we are well placed to be at the forefront of this exciting agenda.”

Anne-Marie Mountifield, Chief Executive for the Solent LEP, Chair of Maritime UK Solent and a Director of MUK explained: "The Solent's maritime sector is not just pivotal for the region but also for the country's trading capabilities as the nation's global gateway. Maritime decarbonisation and sustainability within the sector is critically important as we develop a Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution of the Solent. 

"We will continue to work with our public and private sector partners, and our outstanding research assets to play our part in the Solent's green recovery which benefits local communities, building on pioneering work underway to achieve clean growth, and bringing jobs and investment to level up our important coastal communities while ensuring the Solent's world-class maritime sector reaches its full potential."

The event was part of a national programme, designed to support Maritime UK's Autumn Spending Review bid, which asks government to co-invest with industry to accelerate UK maritime decarbonisation through a new £1bn fund.

Ben Murray, Chief Executive of Maritime UK, said: "This has been an excellent opportunity to showcase a range of innovations in green maritime, and hear first-hand the clear ambition of the maritime sector to decarbonise.  With the right investment, this sector has the potential to create thousands of jobs across coastal areas, supporting the UK's green recovery and firmly cementing the UK's position as a world-leader in maritime decarbonisation."