Kent is once again set to support sustainable innovation in the shipping industry as part of a consortium which has successfully applied to the Innovate UK Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund competition from the Department for Transport (DfT).
The project will see Kent’s Centre for Logistics and Sustainability Analysis (CeLSA), based in Kent Business School and supported by the School of Engineering, work with AVL and ferry operator, DFDS, to explore the feasibility of different electric ferry (e-vessel) designs for future deployment on the Short Straits routes between the Kent coast and northern France.
Identifying the most viable e-vessel designs will require the consideration of ship, propulsion and battery systems across a wide range of operating scenarios. Dr Ramin Raeesi, Director of CeLSA, will support this by developing a dashboard to help inform DFDS’s optimal strategic and operation decision-making process with the deployment of new electric ferries.
It’s anticipated that the results from this project will play a crucial role in DFDS achieving their goal of deploying battery electric ships on the Short Straits from 2030. It will also have a wider impact in decarbonisation of the maritime sector as the key insights such as the reduce in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will be shared with the industry and government departments such as the DfT, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Innovate UK.
CeLSA has a strong track record of securing Innovate UK funding and, having led the Dover Clean Ferry Power (DCFP) project and played a key role in the Green Corridor at Short Straits (GCSS) project, has a background knowledge on the electrification of the Short Straits ferries. The Centre is known for its world-class research portfolio in management science and operational research and addresses transport, logistics, and supply chain problems with sustainability considerations.
Dr Ramin Raeesi said: ‘We are building on our extensive track record and previously completed transport decarbonisation projects, particularly those completed at Dover. It will see us lead the development of a digital and data-driven decision support tool that enables a complete cost/benefit and techno-economic analysis of the options and informs the strategic and operational decisions DFDS is currently making with regard to the ordering, deployment and best operational practices of e-vessels. This project is a crucial step forward in bringing the channel crossing decarbonisation closer to reality.’
Matthias Wellers, Managing Director, AVL Powertrain UK Ltd, said: ‘We are excited to be at the forefront of this transformative project. Together with our academic and end-user partners we are committed to driving forward the decarbonisation of the maritime sector and hope that the insights gained from this study will not only support the goals of the UK maritime sector but also set a benchmark for decarbonising one of the most important trade routes in Europe.’
This project is part of the Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund (SSAF), funded by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered by Innovate UK. SSAF is part of the Department’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, a £206m initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonise the UK domestic maritime sector.