{"id":552,"date":"2023-12-13T09:00:21","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T09:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marri-uk.org\/?p=552"},"modified":"2025-08-08T09:17:58","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T09:17:58","slug":"the-uks-academic-capacity-capability-for-shipbuilding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marri-uk.org\/index.php\/2023\/12\/13\/the-uks-academic-capacity-capability-for-shipbuilding\/","title":{"rendered":"The UK\u2019s Academic Capacity &amp; Capability for Shipbuilding"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/marri-uk.org\/\">Maritime Research and Innovation UK<\/a> (MarRI-UK) have today announced the publication of <a href=\"https:\/\/marri-uk.org\/index.php\/shipbuilding-academic-capacity-and-capability-study\/\">The UK\u2019s Academic Capacity and Capability for Shipbuilding Report<\/a> funded by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/groups\/national-shipbuilding-office\">National Shipbuilding Office<\/a> (NSO). The purpose of this report is to provide an insight into the UK\u2019s current research capabilities, understand what other nations are doing and provide a series of recommendations to industry and government for enhanced competitiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This report aligns world leading maritime innovation and research conducted by the UK\u2019s academic sector with the 2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk\/government\/uploads\/system\/uploads\/attachment_data\/file\/1061201\/_CP_605____National_Shipbuilding_Strategy_Refresh.pdf\">Refreshed National Shipbuilding Strategy<\/a> (NSbS). By linking the UK\u2019s current academic research strengths and future research opportunities with the Shipbuilding Strategy, the report aims to drive understanding in Industry and Academia of the latest technological and environmental innovations, and to propel UK industry to the forefront of the global shipbuilding sector by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>MarRI-UK\u2019s academic partners have reviewed research output across the UK, focussing on the maritime engineering and technologies that underpin the UK\u2019s shipbuilding industry. They identified that the UK produces leading research in the areas of <strong>decarbonisation,<\/strong> <strong>design <\/strong>and <strong>specialist ships<\/strong>. By concentrating efforts and resources on these areas, and utilising the UK\u2019s research capability, the UK Shipbuilding Enterprise can improve its global competitiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key Findings:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The UK has a leading position in key research areas including:<ul><li><strong>Decarbonisation<\/strong>: analytical strategies, energy-saving devices, alternative fuels and carbon capture.<\/li><\/ul><ul><li><strong>Ship design research<\/strong>: ship systems optimisation, biomimicry for propulsion and ship control.<\/li><\/ul><ul><li><strong>Specialised ship types<\/strong>: specialist vehicles and underwater vehicles (including remote\/uncrewed)<\/li><\/ul><ul><li><strong>Autonomy and design:<\/strong> focused on route optimisation and the development of intelligent systems.<\/li><\/ul><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p><!-- \/wp:post-content --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The UK has the greatest potential in adopting Industry 4.0 and 5.0 techniques into current shipbuilding activities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The UK has a significant opportunity in lean manufacturing and large-scale additive manufacturing techniques, optimising and producing more efficient methods of shipbuilding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The UK needs to focus its maritime research into autonomy, decarbonisation, innovative technology (including IoT, digital twins &amp; additive manufacturing) and the maritime application of industry 4.0, utilising these research areas to achieve enhanced global competitiveness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Competitor nations have common focus areas for research.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><strong>Rear Admiral Rex Cox \u2013 CEO National Shipbuilding Office said:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cThe National Shipbuilding Office is delighted to have sponsored this insightful report. To drive the UK to the forefront of the shipbuilding industry, we need to expand and invest in innovation and effective engineering across the enterprise. Aligning our world leading academic research sector with our NSbS Refresh is key. The UK shipbuilding enterprise can be world leading in areas such as decarbonisation, autonomy and intelligent systems. However, to reach this position we must commercialise UK\u2019s research capability, leveraging it to enable a productive, thriving and globally competitive industry.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><strong>Simon Reid \u2013 Director MarRI-UK said:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cMarRI-UK is proud to have collaborated with the NSO on this important project which will enable the future sustainable growth of the shipbuilding industry in the UK. It outlines interventions that will positively disrupt the global market, provide future regional and national growth and enhance the skills development of the UK workforce in the shipbuilding industry\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><strong>Professor Stephen Turnock \u2013 Head of School of Engineering, University of Southampton:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cBy bringing together the university members of MarRI-UK, we have produced a report that outlines the leading areas of research in the UK in Shipbuilding and also highlights the areas that require critical investment to enhance the competitiveness of the UK shipbuilding industry through strong collaborative partnerships with industry and government.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Background<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>MarRI-UK is an industry-led membership organisation that drives the global competitiveness of the UK maritime through extensive partnerships in identifying, developing, and leveraging emerging technologies. Accelerating the delivery of world-leading research and innovation for the UK maritime sector through collaboration.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The partners involved were:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>University of Strathclyde<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>University College London (UCL)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>University of Southampton<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Newcastle University<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>University of Liverpool<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Alan Turing Institute<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>MarRI-UK has announced a new scheme to attract three micro maritime companies to join MarRI-UK on an \u2018in kind\u2019 contribution basis to become part of our collaborative community.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>While the MarRI-UK standard Tier 3 membership fee stands at \u00a31000 per year, micro companies opting for the in-kind approach could fulfil this commitment through tangible contributions, such as organising event with the core team, participating in external workshops to offer valuable insights to research communities.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>For more information please send an enquiry to <a href=\"mailto:info@marri-uk.org\">info@marri-uk.org<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The National Shipbuilding Office was set up to implement the <a href=\"https:\/\/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk\/government\/uploads\/system\/uploads\/attachment_data\/file\/1061201\/_CP_605____National_Shipbuilding_Strategy_Refresh.pdf\">refreshed National Shipbuilding Strategy<\/a> (NSbS) and to provide a strategic oversight of all Government activity across the shipbuilding enterprise. The NSO oversees all of Government&#8217;s interests in UK shipbuilding and has a mandate to drive transformative change across the shipbuilding enterprise. The NSO will enable Government to optimise its approach to growing the industry, realising the benefits of coordinated procurement, investment, and engagement across the shipbuilding enterprise.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The project was funded by the NSO and completed by MarRI-UK and their partner institutions around the UK.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>The report seeks to answer four critical questions:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What are the UK\u2019s leading research areas in shipbuilding?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What are the UK\u2019s key competitors worldwide doing?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Where are the areas the UK can improve on and require critical investment?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How can the UK achieve enhanced competitiveness?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Maritime Research and Innovation UK (MarRI-UK) have today announced the publication of The UK\u2019s Academic [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":560,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-resources"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/marri-uk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/marri-uk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/marri-uk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marri-uk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marri-uk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=552"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/marri-uk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":588,"href":"https:\/\/marri-uk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/552\/revisions\/588"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marri-uk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/560"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/marri-uk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marri-uk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marri-uk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}