The University has become a member of Maritime Research and Innovation UK (MarRI-UK), a collaborative partnership between industry, academia and government to tackle innovation and technology challenges in the maritime sector.
MarRI-UK provide coherence and leverage across the UK’s Maritime Research & Innovation with a specific focus on the identification, development and exploitation of new and emerging maritime technologies and systems.
The University has a long history of working alongside partners in the maritime sector through both its teaching and research programmes.
Liverpool graduate researchers, via the ERDF-funded Port City Innovation Hub in partnership with Wirral Council and Mersey Maritime, currently provide support to businesses that are developing products or services within the maritime sector in the Liverpool City Region.
University researchers are involved in a wide range of research projects with the maritime sector including one that is exploring the use of satellites, radar monitoring stations and models to support safe port navigation.
The University is also a key partner in the Liverpool Institute for Sustainable Coasts and Oceans which brings together the coastal, marine and maritime expertise of the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and the National Oceanography Centre.
Professor Andy Plater, from the University’s Department of Geography & Planning, will hold a position on MarRI-UK Technical Board. He said: “This is a vital initiative to be part of. The maritime sector is of significant economic importance to the UK and to the Liverpool City Region and faces considerable challenges and opportunities through technology and innovation.
“The University provides world-leading expertise and facilities for research and innovation in the maritime sector, particularly in Decarbonization, Digital, Smart Ports, Low Carbon Innovation, and People, Health and Wellbeing. It also provides the essential underpinning for innovation across Liverpool City Region’s Freeport. Becoming a member of MaRI-UK confirms the University’s reputation and track record on programmes and accomplishments in the maritime sector.”
Richard Westgarth, Chair of the MarRI-UK Technology Working Group, said: “I am delighted that the University of Liverpool has joined MarRI-UK growing our membership of leading UK universities.
“As a great Maritime City with a strong heritage in research and innovation, there is an opportunity for Liverpool and Merseyside to play a key role in the growth of the UK maritime sector capitalising on emerging technologies, both in shipping and our ports, as it transforms to an efficient and green future.
“I am particularly proud that as a graduate from the University of Liverpool back in the 1970’s that I can now once again work with the academics and researchers and spend time with the people of Liverpool, in my opinion one of the world’s great cities.”
The MarRI-UK initiative is supported by the UK Department for Transport. For more information, please visit this website: https://www.marri-uk.org/