ELIRE Maritime and consortium partners on Monday (25 May) announced the successful completion of the UKRI-funded Clean Maritime Demonstrator Competition Round 6 (CMDC6) programme.

CMDC6 is a GBP 1 million (USD 1.3 million) feasibility programme and initiative delivered by Innovate UK in partnership with the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE), part of the UK Department for Transport.

The partners are Ricardo UK, Schneider Electric, Rux Energy UK, Triton Anchor Europe, OREC (Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult), and the University of Strathclyde. 

The programme successfully validated one of the world’s first fully grid-independent Hydrogen Floating Power Hub systems capable of delivering clean power directly to vessels at berth without requiring traditional shore-side grid infrastructure. 

The consortium demonstrated that large vessels can realistically be powered at berth today using existing hydrogen, battery, fuel cell, and electrical technologies integrated into a modular floating maritime system designed for rapid deployment across global ports.

The solution can now be deployed and would be expected to support the reduction of up to 500,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions globally over the next decade through a scalable maritime clean energy infrastructure capable of operating independently from constrained port grids.

“Ports are under increasing pressure to decarbonise while facing major infrastructure constraints,” said Luke Jenkinson, Founder and CEO of ELIRE Maritime. 

“The Hydrogen Power Hub proves that ports do not need to wait years for grid upgrades to begin reducing emissions. We have validated a practical, scalable, and deployable system capable of delivering clean power directly where it is needed most.”

The Hydrogen Power Hub establishes a new category of maritime infrastructure by moving energy and power generation as well as storage onto water rather than relying on fixed, land-based systems constrained by grid access, cost, permitting, and land availability.

At full configuration, this particular validated system is capable of delivering 5MW of continuous clean power output directly to vessels at berth, enough to support medium-sized cruise vessels and other large maritime assets requiring both 6.6kV and 11kV shore power connections. This system integrates three modular hexagonal floating platforms with a combined 1,200 sqm footprint, approximately 45MWh of battery energy storage capacity, modular fuel cell systems, hydrogen-powered generation, onboard renewable generation, and advanced grid-forming AC/DC electrical architecture.

The consortium confirmed the platform can deliver approximately 91MWh of energy per week while supporting repeated vessel charging operations without requiring major civil works, land reclamation, or expensive grid reinforcement.

The system uses approximately 7,500 to 8,000kg of hydrogen weekly, stored within modular ISO-compatible low-pressure storage containers integrated directly into the floating infrastructure. The current layout accommodates seven onboard hydrogen tanks, with refuelling operations expected approximately twice weekly, enabling ports to adopt hydrogen incrementally without requiring permanent hydrogen infrastructure during early deployment phases.

Instead of relying on oversized generators, the platform uses modular 1.3MW fuel cells operating continuously throughout the week to gradually charge the onboard batteries before rapidly dispatching energy when vessels arrive at berth.

Photo credit: ELIRE Maritime
Published: 26 May, 2026

Wah Kwong NatPower Marine (WK NatPower), a joint venture between Wah Kwong Maritime Transport and NatPower Marine, on Wednesday (20 May) said it is supporting a new initiative to develop zero-carbon shipping routes across China’s Greater Bay Area, following a recent broader Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Guangzhou Port Group.

Under this MoU, WK NatPower will support maritime electrification by advancing the development of shore power infrastructure across Hong Kong, Greater China, and Asia. 

The initiative will focus on deploying electric vessels and establishing shore-side battery swapping and charging infrastructure across key ports in Guangdong province and Hong Kong, supporting the transition toward low-emission shipping operations.

WK NatPower will play a central role in developing a scalable electrification network, supplying clean electricity to vessels both at berth and for propulsion. The project aligns with China’s “dual carbon” targets and reflects broader efforts to integrate energy systems and port infrastructure at scale.

Guangzhou Port, a major international hub, is advancing its green port strategy through expanded shore power deployment and increased use of clean energy. The collaboration aims to establish standardised charging and battery-swapping infrastructure across the Greater Bay Area, enabling the development of integrated zero-carbon shipping corridors.

The partners will also explore the use of alternative marine fuels, including methanol and ammonia, as part of a broader decarbonisation pathway.

“Delivering zero-carbon shipping at scale requires alignment across ports, energy providers and shipping lines,” said Vincent Ni, General Manager of WK NatPower. 

“This initiative represents a significant step toward building the infrastructure needed to support electrified maritime operations across the region.”

WK NatPower is part of a broader strategy to develop a comprehensive maritime electrification infrastructure network across Asia, combining Wah Kwong’s maritime expertise with NatPower Marine’s global energy infrastructure capabilities.

Photo credit: Wah Kwong NatPower Marine
Published: 21 May, 2026

Singapore is prioritising the use of autonomous technology at its port terminals, Senior Minister of State for Transport Murali Pillai said on Wednesday (22 April), citing plans outlined in the country’s Maritime Technology and Research Roadmap.

The roadmap was announced yesterday by Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow highlighting the research and development priorities Singapore will invest more than $100 million over the next five years. 

One of the initiatives include the government studying the use of remote operations for LNG bunkering. MPA is supporting a Joint Industry Project between DNV, Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT).

Singapore will also be launching a call for design proposals for an autonomous inter-gateway container feeder — a vessel that transfers containers between terminals.

“These two initiatives will explore remote and autonomous technologies, realtime monitoring and remote vessel operations, allowing us to establish new operational frameworks,” he said.

Mr Murali also said Singapore is preparing its port for a multi-fuel future by developing operational standards for alternative marine fuels given the unique challenges and risks posed by these fuels.

He said operational standards set out safety protocols, guidelines for crew training, and regulations on the safe handling of alternative fuels. 

“By coordinating efforts across stakeholders, including shipowners, ports, and fuel suppliers, we can accelerate our collective shift towards cleaner marine fuels,” he said in his opening remarks of Day 2 of the Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2026 at Suntec Convention Centre. 

Over the past three years, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has conducted extensive safety studies and fuel trials to inform the standards Singapore is developing. This includes two for ammonia and four for methanol.

“Last year, we published the Technical Reference on Methanol Bunkering. We are currently developing Singapore’s first Technical Reference for Ammonia Bunkering and will share more details subsequently,” he said.

He added that the city-state is developing an electric harbour craft charging infrastructure plan, based on detailed studies of the routes and needs of crew transfer and cargo supply vessels.

Recognising that infrastructural provisions are necessary for electric harbour craft to gain traction, Singapore intends to deploy chargers at key terminals and piers such as Marina South Pier, West Coast Pier and within the Western Industrial Area in the coming years.

“By 2030, we aim to expand the network of public chargers across Singapore’s southern coastline,” he said.

“We will also trial the use of battery-powered charging solutions to provide greater flexibility for harbour craft operations.”

He acknowledged that there are challenges remaining, including the high upfront costs of electric harbour craft which the government is addressing by working closely with industry to study how to bridge this gap.

“MPA and our local shipping associations convened the Harbour Craft Decarbonisation Taskforce in October last year and the Taskforce has concluded its work. The Singapore Government looks forward to receiving the recommendations and will study them thoroughly,” he said.

Photo credit: Murali Pillai
Published: 22 April, 2026