ACUA Ocean and Unitrove secure £3.8m from the UK government to develop a hydrogen-powered autonomous vessel

The UK Government has awarded £3.8m to a consortium led by ACUA Ocean and Unitrove to develop the world's first liquid hydrogen autonomous vessel and associated bunkering infrastructure. The £5.4m project, named HI-FIVED, aims to support decarbonisation in the maritime sector through innovative clean technology.

As part of the initiative, Unitrove will deploy its mobile fueling technology at the Port of Aberdeen to service ACUA's hydrogen-fuelled vessel, which is slated for delivery in autumn 2024. The project ultimately intends to establish a green maritime corridor connecting Aberdeen with the Orkney and Shetland islands using autonomous freight ships.

The consortium also includes the University of Southampton, Zero Emissions Maritime Technologies, Composite Manufacture and Design, Trident Marine Electrical, NASH Maritime, and the Port of Aberdeen. Funding is drawn from the UK Department for Transport's Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 3, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.