New project on marine and coastal resource management for Marine South East
Marine South East has just begun working on a European project that will focus on innovation capacity for a resource efficient maritime Europe, targeting the whole-life efficiency of the marine extractive industries (fisheries & aquaculture, seabed aggregates and renewable energy).
A particular emphasis is on advancing Europe's capabilities in marine operational efficiency, since this has a major impact on whole-life resource efficiency, and also offers large potential for diversification into different markets.
The following marine extractive end-user markets will be targeted:
* Fisheries - reduced fuel consumption of vessels/gear and feedstock efficiency for aquaculture
* Marine renewable energy - improved resource mapping/capture and energy efficiency of installation and operation
* Aggregates - improved energy efficiency of extraction and expanded re-use of dredge spoil
In addition, these activities draw on supply chain capabilities supporting multiple end-user markets. Two critical supply chain capabilities are:
* Vessels & ships - ship design and energy efficiency, renewable fuels and improved competitiveness, also with wider application to 'green shipping'
* Surveillance & environmental security - improved effectiveness of maritime monitoring and decision support services in support of marine extractive operations
The global maritime market is on a strong growth trajectory, and this project aims to harness that growth opportunity to create economic and employment benefits for Europe. On the one hand, growth is driven by commercial megatrends such as demand for marine/offshore renewable energy, fish products and emerging potential for 'blue biotech' products; on the other hand, there is high demand for efficient use and management of the ocean resource, as described in the EU Integrated Maritime Strategy.
Increasing Europe's innovation capacity in maritime resource efficiency will underpin successful exploitation of these growth opportunities.
Partners from Sweden, France, Portugal, Ireland and Lithuania will join with Marine South East in working on this project.
For more information please contact Simon Powell; simon@marinesoutheast.co.uk
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