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UK SHORE Programme

Clean Maritime Demonstration & Deployment Funding

£448M Total Commitment to 2030

Up to 70% Coverage Rate

⚡ CMDC Round 7 Open — Deadline July 15, 2026

Programme Overview

📋 Administering Body: Innovate UK / Department for Transport (DfT)

💰 Total Commitment: £448 million (UK SHORE programme, to 2030)

📊 Coverage Rate: Up to 70% of eligible project costs (strand-dependent)

🎯 Primary Focus: Zero and near-zero emission vessels, hydrogen bunkering infrastructure, port facilities

🔄 Application Cycle: Competitive rounds (CMDC annually, ZEVI periodic)

🌍 Geographic Scope: UK-based projects; UK-registered or UK-operating vessels

On March 3, 2026, the UK Government announced a £271 million investment to accelerate green shipping and port infrastructure — the largest single clean maritime funding announcement in UK history. This forms part of the broader UK SHORE (Shipping and ports: zero-emission Research and Enterprise) programme, which commits £448 million through 2030 to push hydrogen and other clean maritime technologies toward commercial deployment.

For hydrogen shipbuilders, the programme offers two primary competition routes currently open or imminent: the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) and Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI). Complementing these is the Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR), which addresses the fuel supply side by providing long-term revenue certainty for green hydrogen producers — essential for any shipowner planning hydrogen bunkering on UK routes.

Active Competitions

🟢 CMDC Round 7 — Open Now

The Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 7 is the flagship near-term opportunity for hydrogen maritime projects.

Detail	Information
Total pot	£121 million
Opened	March 11, 2026
Application deadline	July 15, 2026
Focus	Real-world deployment trials, pre-deployment testing, feasibility studies
Hydrogen priority	Explicitly includes liquid hydrogen (LH₂) and compressed hydrogen (CH₂) systems
Scope	On-vessel technologies and shoreside hydrogen infrastructure
Project scale	£100k feasibility studies to £15m+ deployment trials

CMDC7 explicitly prioritises zero and near-zero emission fuel systems. For hydrogen projects, this means both the onboard systems (fuel cells, storage tanks, BOG management) and the shoreside infrastructure (bunkering, liquefaction, compression) are within scope. This is the broadest eligibility the CMDC has offered for the hydrogen sector.

Innovate UK Briefing: A mandatory applicant briefing is scheduled for March 19, 2026. Any team planning to bid for CMDC7 should attend — the event covers assessment criteria, application portal guidance, and Q&A with programme managers.

🟡 ZEVI Round 2 — Launching March 26, 2026

The Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure Round 2 targets projects that are closer to market readiness than typical CMDC projects.

Detail	Information
Launch date	March 26, 2026
Focus	Commercial trials of hydrogen-powered ships; hydrogen bunkering facility development in UK ports
Target projects	Designs transitioning to revenue-generating operations
Distinction from CMDC	Higher TRL (Technology Readiness Level) expected; demonstrable commercial pathway required

From a naval architect’s perspective, ZEVI Round 2 is particularly interesting for projects that have completed design and approval stages and are ready to put a hydrogen-propelled vessel into commercial service on a UK route. The emphasis on bunkering facility development also makes it relevant for port operators planning to serve hydrogen vessels.

Hydrogen Production Support: Hydrogen Allocation Rounds (HAR)

Beyond vessel CAPEX, the UK addresses the fuel supply chain through the Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR) mechanism — a critical complement to the vessel funding schemes.

Feature	Detail
Mechanism	15-year revenue support contracts for green hydrogen producers
HAR2 status	Successful projects announced early 2026, including MorGen Energy (Milford Haven green hydrogen hub)
Relevance to shipping	Provides long-term price certainty for hydrogen bunkering — removes fuel supply risk from vessel investment decisions
Key port	Milford Haven (South Wales) positioned as primary UK LH₂ maritime hub

The HAR production business model is the piece that makes hydrogen vessel investment credible on UK routes. A 15-year revenue support contract for a green hydrogen producer at a port like Milford Haven means a shipowner can model fuel costs over the vessel’s service life with reasonable confidence — something that has been impossible to date.

Eligibility Criteria

✅ Who Can Apply

• UK-registered companies and organisations
• Shipowners and operators with UK-based or UK-calling vessels
• Technology suppliers and system integrators with UK operations
• Port operators and harbour authorities
• Consortiums with a UK lead partner
• Universities and research institutions (as consortium members)

✅ Eligible Project Types

• Vessel newbuilds: LH₂ or CH₂ propulsion systems, fuel cell installations
• Vessel retrofits: Converting existing vessels to hydrogen propulsion
• Bunkering infrastructure: Hydrogen storage, transfer, and compression equipment at UK ports
• Feasibility studies: Technical and economic assessment of hydrogen maritime projects
• Deployment trials: Commercial operation of hydrogen vessels on UK routes
• Safety & certification: Class society approval work, type approval programmes

❌ Typically Not Eligible

• Projects with no UK nexus (vessel or infrastructure must operate in UK waters or ports)
• Pure fossil fuel or non-zero-emission technologies
• Projects already at commercial scale without a demonstration component
• Operational costs (fuel, crew, routine maintenance) — CAPEX only
• Projects that would proceed commercially without public support

Coverage Rates by Strand

Project Strand	Coverage Rate	Typical Scale	Notes
Feasibility Study	Up to 70%	£100k–£500k	Technical/economic assessment
Pre-deployment Trial	Up to 60%	£500k–£5m	System testing, port trials
Deployment Trial	Up to 50%	£5m–£15m+	Commercial operation with data collection
Infrastructure	Up to 60%	£1m–£20m+	Bunkering, storage, port facilities

Coverage rates are indicative. Actual rates depend on project strand, TRL, commercial readiness, and competition assessment. Higher-TRL projects may attract lower percentage support but larger absolute grants.

Application Process

Step 1 — Pre-Application (Now, before March 19)

• Attend the Innovate UK CMDC7 briefing on March 19, 2026
• Register on the Innovate UK Funding Service portal
• Identify your project strand (feasibility / pre-deployment / deployment / infrastructure)
• Assemble consortium if applicable — UK lead partner required

Step 2 — Expression of Interest / Full Application

• CMDC7 uses a single-stage application process
• Submit via Innovate UK Funding Service before July 15, 2026
• Required documents: technical case, financial model, team capability, CO₂ reduction evidence, commercial pathway

Step 3 — Assessment

• Technical and commercial evaluation by Innovate UK assessors
• Scoring against published criteria: innovation, impact, team, commercial viability
• Typical decision timeline: 3–4 months after deadline (Q4 2026 expected)

Step 4 — Award & Delivery

• Grant agreement negotiation and signature
• Project kick-off with Innovate UK monitoring
• Milestone-based disbursements
• Final reporting and knowledge dissemination (UK SHORE requires public learnings)

Application Tips

🎯 Quantify CO₂ reduction Provide well-to-wake emissions calculations. CMDC7 scores projects on tonnes of CO₂ avoided — the stronger the number, the stronger the bid.

🤝 Show the supply chain UK SHORE explicitly targets industrial development. Demonstrating UK supply chain involvement (shipyards, fuel cell manufacturers, port operators) strengthens the strategic case.

📊 Commercial realism Include a post-grant commercial pathway. Projects that can demonstrate a route to unsubsidised operation score higher than pure demonstrations.

🔧 Reference the technology Link to existing type approvals, classification society involvement, and comparable international projects. The MiNaMi project, Norwegian bulk carrier programmes, and EU Innovation Fund awards all provide credible precedents.

⏰ Start now Application preparation for a competitive bid takes 6–10 weeks. With CMDC7 closing July 15, teams should begin technical documentation immediately.

Upcoming Deadlines

Event	Date
Innovate UK CMDC7 applicant briefing	March 19, 2026
ZEVI Round 2 launch	March 26, 2026
CMDC Round 7 application deadline	July 15, 2026
CMDC7 decisions expected	Q4 2026

Note: ZEVI Round 2 deadlines will be published at launch on March 26. Monitor Innovate UK’s funding finder for confirmed dates. Check our latest funding news for updates.

Need Help With Your UK SHORE Application?

CMDC and ZEVI applications are competitive — typically oversubscribed — and require a well-structured technical case combined with a credible commercial narrative. As a Rotterdam-based naval architect with experience across European hydrogen maritime funding programmes, I can help UK-based and internationally operating teams build a strong application.

I Can Help You With:

• ✓ Identifying the right strand and competition for your project
• ✓ Structuring the technical case and CO₂ reduction methodology
• ✓ Calculating realistic coverage rates and financial models
• ✓ Positioning your project relative to CMDC7 assessment criteria
• ✓ Connecting vessel funding with HAR hydrogen supply chain opportunities
• ✓ Tracking ZEVI Round 2 requirements as they are published

Get in Touch

📧 Email: hello@hydrogenshipbuilding.com

💼 LinkedIn: Connect for funding updates

Response time: Within 2 business days

Additional Resources

📰 All Funding News 📚 Shipowner’s Guide to Hydrogen 🚢 Funded Vessels Database 💰 Compare All Programs