Cellula Robotics partners with Subsea Europe Services and FLANQ to expand AUV Market reach in Northern Europe
Cellula Robotics Limited has entered into a sales and representation agreement with Subsea Europe Services GmbH (SES) and its defence division, FLANQ. This strategic partnership will expand the market presence of Cellula’s advanced autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) technologies across Northern Europe.
Under the agreement, SES will promote and represent Cellula’s full AUV portfolio—including the Envoy, Porter, and Guardian AUVs, the Subsea Warden Hovering AUV for ship signature management, and the Subsea Sentinel system for passive acoustic monitoring—in both commercial and scientific sectors. SES will focus on customers in academic research, offshore survey, and geophysical industries, while FLANQ will engage with defence, maritime security, and government clients.
This new partnership will support customers in Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland, offering local expertise and direct access to Cellula’s underwater platforms and sensors.
Richard Mills, Chief Commercial Officer at Cellula Robotics said: “We have worked with SES and FLANQ co-founders, Sören Themann and Daniel Esser, for many years now. We’ve watched Subsea Europe’s strong, year-on-year growth and been impressed with their successful launch of FLANQ in 2024. Their laser focus on the customer’s mission and exceptional support and service, made today’s announcement a natural step. We have full confidence in their team’s professionalism and commitment to delivering for our organisation.”
Daniel Esser, Co-founder and Chief Commerical Officer of Subsea Services Europe and FLANQ added: “We’re excited to join forces with Cellula Robotics in Europe. They have an immensely impressive product portfolio – a portfolio which aligns perfectly with the challenges Europe is facing now across the maritime domain. Everything from trading challenges to protecting critical undersea infrastructure and strengthening sovereign defence capability.
As Richard has mentioned, Sören and myself know the Cellula leadership team very well, and we know they understand, respect and fully support their channel partners in the market. We know this team will excel together, by focusing on delivering reliable, solutions that deliver operational and domain advantage to our clients in energy, science and defence.”
ZERO USV expands portfolio with new XLR Oceanus 12 for incredible 7500NM deployments
Zero USV, pioneers behind the world’s first charter fleet for over-the-horizon unmanned surface vessels (USV), has today announced the expansion of its portfolio with the introduction of the new extra-long-range (XLR) Oceanus12, offering users even more options for high endurance maritime operations.
The original Oceanus12, launched earlier this year, is engineered to excel in voyages of up to 20 days or 2500 Nautical mile duration. However, the new XLR version builds on the hybrid electric technology developed for Oceanus12 and can increase overall mission duration to an incredible 7500 Nautical Miles or approximately 60 days with no outside assistance. It is also built for missions in remote areas or regions where access to traditional fuelling points is limited, ensuring that operations can continue uninterrupted.
The XLR Oceanus12 has all the power and onboard functionality of the core variant but boasts an increased overall length from 11.55m to 13m. While the original Oceanus12 has a fuel capacity of 1200 litres and approximately 2500 nautical mile range or a 20–25-day mission, the XLR can carry 4000 litres of fuel and travel more than 7500 nautical miles, the equivalent of 60+ day missions.
Matthew Ratsey, founder and managing director of Zero USV, said: “Uncrewed vessels are a force multiplier. The ability to conduct sustained operations at sea without the need for regular refuelling or crew-related logistics is becoming increasingly crucial as operational pressure on resources and time become more demanding. This is even more pronounced as international tensions rise, particularly in regions with contested maritime boundaries, heightening the need for reliable, high endurance long range USVs. In fact, they never been more critical.
“The Oceanus12 XLR is designed to meet these demands, offering unparalleled endurance for missions that require extended periods at sea, whether for surveillance, environmental monitoring, or strategic defence operations. By offering more flexibility and the ability to conduct longer missions, Zero USV’s XLR version responds directly to the strategic challenges of today’s global security environment.”
XLR Oceanus12 Specifications:
Green Credentials
- Twin Electric Hybrid Drive giving redundancy and efficiency
- Low Fuel Consumption
- Solar charging for house and emergency loads
Customisable Design
- Adaptable payload bay
- Sensor agnostic
- Quick change keel (sensor strut) allowing preloaded sensors to be swapped in/out with minimal downtime
Full Autonomy
- GuardianAI full stack autonomy software by MarineAI installed as standard
- Fully loaded autonomous sensor suite including HD Radar from Navtech.
- Remote control option
Over-the-Horizon
- Large fuel capacity for extended missions c. 7500Nm
- Six knot cruising speed with sprint speed of 10 knots (subject to payload)
Technical specification
- Length Overall: 13m
- Waterline Length: 11.40m
- Max Beam: 2.33m
- Displacement: 8 tonnes
- Hull Type: Monohull
- Hull Construction: Aluminium
- Installed Power: software limited to 40Kw, available 80Kw
- Speed: 6 knots cruising, 10 knots sprint
- Endurance: 7500+Nautical miles
- Fuel Capacity: 4000 Litres
- Payload: up to 1 tonne
- Draft: 1.76m
New Product Range Announcement
Chelsea Technologies are excited to announce the launch of the new SONO product range, designed specifically to meet the evolving demands of oceanographic research and underwater acoustic applications. This innovative suite of sensors and tools leverages advanced technology to deliver unmatched precision, reliability, and performance in marine environments. The SONO range encompasses various solutions tailored for applications such as underwater communications, telemetry, and sonar test and evaluation.
Launched with the aim of empowering scientists and researchers, the SONO range is the culmination of Chelsea Technologies’ decades of expertise in marine sensor development. Designed to withstand the harshest conditions while maintaining exceptional accuracy, these products are poised to set a new standard in the field. Visit Chelsea Technologies’ website today to explore the full SONO range and discover how it can elevate your research to the next level here.
New Coral Gardens and Hydrothermal Vents Found in the Icy Depths of the Remote South Sandwich Islands
An Ocean Census Flagship expedition and GoSouth team of scientists found suspected new species, discovered one of the island chain’s shallowest hydrothermal vents, and explored the deepest trench in the Southern Ocean.
An international team of scientists on a recent 35-day deep sea expedition to one of the most remote island chains in the world observed thriving polar ecosystems, discovered new hydrothermal vents, coral gardens and many suspected new species. The Ocean Census Flagship expedition aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor (too) explored the South Sandwich Islands, including one of the coldest and most isolated submarine trenches on the planet, and also found evidence of explosive volcanism. This was the same expedition that filmed the first confirmed sighting of a juvenile colossal squid
The expedition was part of the Nippon Foundation–Nekton Ocean Census programme, the world’s largest initiative to accelerate the discovery of ocean life. The Ocean Census scientists led the species discovery efforts, uncovering a wide range of potentially new marine life–including corals, sponges, snails, sea urchins, benthic ctenophores, and sea stars. The exact number of new species will be announced later this year following an Ocean Census workshop, where taxonomic experts will formally assess and catalogue the findings. The GoSouth team—a collaboration between the University of Plymouth (UK), GEOMAR (Germany), and the British Antarctic Survey (UK)—investigated the effects of geohazards, including tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquakes.
“This expedition has given us a glimpse into one of the most remote and biologically rich parts of our ocean. This is exactly why the Ocean Census exists—to accelerate our understanding of ocean life before it’s too late,” said Dr. Michelle Taylor, head of science and expedition principal investigator at the Ocean Census, and senior lecturer at the University of Essex. “The 35 days at sea were an exciting rollercoaster of scientific discovery; the implications of which will be felt for many years to come as discoveries filter into management action.”
Mother Nature threw everything she had at the expedition, said Taylor, including a subsea earthquake, tropical storm force winds with hurricane-level gusts, eight-metre (26-foot) waves, and icebergs to navigate.
Located in the South Atlantic, the South Sandwich Islands are part of a rich mosaic of geologic features such as hadal zone trenches, underwater volcanoes, and spreading centres — features created by tectonic forces that have supported the evolution of species found nowhere else on the planet. It took eight days for the research vessel to travel to the islands from the port of Punta Arenas, Chile.
The GoSouth team, led by Co-Chief Scientist Dr. Jenny Gales, discovered two pockmarks in the mapping data of an underwater caldera— a bowl-shaped depression in the seafloor, left after a volcano erupts. Pockmarks can indicate hydrothermal activity. Using a “nested” approach, the team deployed Schmidt Ocean Institute’s remotely operated vehicle, SuBastian to map the pockmarks at a higher resolution and confirm the presence of vents.
The larger pockmark contained three hydrothermal vents, and the smaller contained one. Located at 700 metres depth (nearly 2300 feet), they are one of the shallowest hydrothermal vents to have been discovered near the South Sandwich Islands, and the only ones to be explored using a remotely operated vehicle. The tallest vent chimney was four metres (13 feet), making it about as tall as a basketball hoop. Each vent was covered with an array of life dependent on chemosynthesis, including sea snails and barnacles. Thriving coral gardens and large sponges were found in close proximity to the vents–an unusual observation, said Taylor.
“Discovering these hydrothermal vents was a magical moment, as they have never been seen here before,” said Gales, an associate professor in Ocean Exploration at the University of Plymouth (UK). “It's an incredible discovery that provides valuable insights into the area’s tectonic activity. Making such a discovery is rare. It highlights the importance of ocean exploration and seafloor mapping.”
In addition to the vents, other notable observations during the expedition included:
• In the trench, scientists found snailfish eggs that had been laid on a black coral, as well as a potential new sea cucumber species;
• large pumice blocks, indicating that the South Sandwich Islands are capable of explosive volcanism;
• a vibrant coral garden located west of Saunders Island at a depth of 120 metres (394 feet);
• Capturing the first footage of Akarotaxis aff. gouldae, a species of dragonfish that was discovered two years ago.
“The challenging ocean and weather conditions and the isolated location of the South Sandwich Islands capture the imagination of the boldest explorers - often the closest humans to the vessel were on the International Space Station,” said Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Executive Director, Dr. Jyotika Virmani. “We are proud to have collaborated with Ocean Census in their mission to advance discovery of marine life and GoSouth in their quest to better understand the geological nature of this dynamic corner of the world.”
Okeanus Delivers 20-Ton A-Frame to ThayerMahan
Okeanus Science & Technology, LLC, an international provider of specialized ocean equipment and marine engineering services, recently delivered a 20-Ton A-Frame to ThayerMahan, a leading defense and commercial maritime technology company, for their newly acquired vessel, TM Vigilant. The A-Frame is now permanently installed on the vessel, which has been engineered to support the launch and recovery of monitoring and surveillance assets for both environmental survey campaigns and defense-related missions.
While the 20-Ton A-Frame is a standard product from the expanding Okeanus portfolio, the engineering and manufacturing team, based out of the firm’s production facility in Houston, TX, worked with operators from ThayerMahan to customize certain specifications, including making the A-Frame 5’ wider than is standard, allowing the client the ability to use the full width of the aft deck to handle more sizeable deployments. Final hydraulic assembly and factory acceptance testing were conducted at Okeanus’ Houma, LA facility, and the system was immediately sent out on its first deployment.
“We are grateful for the efforts of the engineering and development teams at Okeanus to deliver this capable custom solution,” said ThayerMahan’s Fleet Manager, Chris Gasiorek. “With its new 20-Ton A-Frame and our seasoned crew, the TM Vigilant is now equipped to execute an even wider range of missions and operations for our commercial and defense customers.”
“We were delighted to work with ThayerMahan on this project and are excited to see another of our 20-Ton A-Frames out in the field,” said Benton LeBlanc, Chief Commercial Officer Okeanus. “As operators and their customers look to safely and reliably handle larger and more sophisticated payloads in deeper waters from support vessels like the TM Vigilant, we understand that there is a continued need for versatile solutions that are reliable enough to serve as a permanent installation on the deck of the vessel, but designed and built with rapid mobilization and demobilization in mind should the need arise to remove the equipment from the vessel. To optimize any deck-handling system’s versatility, we work with the customer, as we did with the team from ThayerMahan, from initial consultation to final installation to advise on and incorporate any necessary customization to ensure a fit-for-purpose and turnkey package.”
The Okeanus 20-Ton A-Frame is available as both a build-to-order offering and as part of the company’s extensive rental lineup. Okeanus’ rental portfolio provides offshore operators with access to a range of advanced deck systems and cutting-edge technologies available around the world for rapid mobilization. For more information, visit the Okeanus website here.
Fugro selected for pioneering USV seabed mapping initiative in Norway
Fugro has been awarded a contract by the Norwegian Hydrographic Service (NHS) to support the 2025 MAREANO seabed mapping programme. For the first time in its history, MAREANO will use uncrewed surface vessel (USV) technology to acquire the data, with Fugro deploying its new 18 m Blue Eclipse® USV for the initiative. This innovative approach aims to advance the move towards lower carbon emissions in seabed mapping while ensuring high-quality data acquisition for the responsible management and preservation of Norway’s marine resources.
The Blue Eclipse®, the largest USV in Fugro’s fleet, will survey over 675 km² region in the North Sea, with water depths ranging from 90 to 250 metres. Equipped with advanced high-resolution, high-density multibeam echo sounders and sub-bottom data acquisition systems, the USV will gather comprehensive datasets, including bathymetry, water column data, acoustic backscatter data, and sub-bottom profiler data to understand the seabed’s topography and geology.
A key advantage of using the Blue Eclipse® is its significantly reduced fuel consumption – up to 90 % less than traditional survey vessels – directly contributing to more sustainable operations. Controlled remotely from Fugro’s remote operations centre in Aberdeen, the USV’s long endurance and real-time data transfer capabilities will ensure efficient operations and reduce potential delays in the challenging North Sea environment, factors crucial for the success of the MAREANO programme.
Helge Welde, Chief Engineer at the Norwegian Mapping Authority, Hydrographic Service said: “The MAREANO programme wants to accelerate the shift towards lower carbon emissions in seabed mapping. Use of USVs is one way to achieve this goal. Experiences from this year's seabed mapping with USV technology will give us direction for opportunities in future surveys.”
Nick Simmons, Fugro’s USV Services Director said: “This award marks a significant milestone for Fugro and the commercial debut of our advanced Blue Eclipse® USV. The NHS’s decision, following a thorough evaluation process, highlights our technical capabilities, operational strategy, and commitment to knowledge sharing. We are confident that the Blue Eclipse® and our expert team will deliver high-quality results for this important environmental mapping programme."
Fugro has a well-established history of supporting the MAREANO programme since 2006, having acquired over 147,000 km² of data to date. This latest contract further demonstrates Fugro’s ongoing leadership in the development and application of uncrewed vessel technology for marine surveys, contributing to more sustainable and efficient data acquisition practices.
About Fugro
Fugro is the world’s leading Geo-data specialist. With our unique map, model and monitor solutions, we provide project critical insights into the built and natural environment. Fugro supports clients by delivering solutions in support of the energy transition, large-scale infrastructure development and climate resilience. With expertise in site characterisation and asset integrity, clients are supported in the safe, sustainable and efficient design, construction and operation of their assets throughout the life cycle. In line with our purpose, we are extending our know-how and solutions to the understanding and preservation of ecosystems.
Employing approximately 11,000 people in 52 countries, Fugro serves clients around the globe, mostly in the energy, infrastructure and water industries, both offshore and onshore. In 2024, revenue amounted to EUR 2.3 billion. Fugro is listed on Euronext Amsterdam.
Natural hazards responsible for 25% of subsea cable damage, study finds
A study led by the UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has found that natural hazards account for around a quarter of all recorded instances of subsea cable damage between 1965 and 2019, posing a threat to the growing infrastructure underpinning global connectivity.
While human activities like fishing and anchoring remain the primary causes of damage, the study warns that climate change is intensifying many natural hazards, increasing risks to these vital networks.
The threats from natural hazards range from earthquakes and submarine landslides to powerful underwater currents triggered by river floods.
“These events can damage cables, bury them under sediment, or render them inoperable,” said Dr Isobel Yeo, a researcher at NOC and co-lead on the project. “With climate change driving more extreme weather, rising sea levels and sediment-laden river discharges, the frequency and severity of these hazards are expected to grow, amplifying the challenges of maintaining resilient subsea infrastructure.”
The vulnerabilities were starkly illustrated by the 2022 Hunga Volcano eruption in Tonga. Underwater density currents generated by the eruption destroyed Tonga’s sole international cable, isolating the nation for weeks and severely hindering emergency response efforts.
Similarly, powerful turbidity currents in the Congo Canyon, driven by record-breaking floods, have repeatedly damaged cables, disrupting internet services across West Africa.
To mitigate these risks, the researchers advocate for improved cable routing, enhanced repair readiness and investment in complementary technologies such as satellite backups. Initiatives like Seabed 2030, which aims to map the entire ocean floor by 2030, are also critical for identifying potential hazards and guiding safer infrastructure development.
The study’s lead author Dr Lucy Bricheno adds, “At NOC, we dedicate our expertise to understanding and mitigating the risks natural hazards pose to subsea cables. We map geological events like earthquakes and landslides, analyse cable fault data to understand the causes and damage mechanisms and recognize the significant role of climate change in exacerbating these hazards.”
With the increasing interconnectedness of the modern world, safeguarding subsea cables against mounting natural and climate-driven challenges is essential to maintaining global connectivity and economic stability.
The study was conducted in partnership with the National Grid (UK), Victoria University of Wellington (Aotearoa, New Zealand), the Departments of Earth Science and Geography at Durham University (UK), Ocean-IQ (UK), Tonga Cable Limited (Tonga), and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC).
Read the full paper, “The diversity, frequency and severity of natural hazard impacts on subsea telecommunications networks”, in Earth-Science Reviews.
CASE STUDY: Autopilot for rim-driven thruster USV design
HydroSurv is a global provider of Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV) platforms for hydrographic, geophysical and oceanographic survey. The company, based in Exeter, United Kingdom, offers a range of electric and hybrid USVs from 2.5 to 6 metres for inland, nearshore and offshore survey operations.
In 2024, HydroSurv introduced its REAV-47 multi-purpose USV to meet growing customer demand for small to midsize seagoing USVs. The battery-hybrid REAV-47 is a compact, high-performance vessel for nearshore survey deployment, offering 90-hour endurance and featuring new rim-driven thruster propulsion technology from Netherlands-based Rim Drive Technology (RDT).
Having worked for six years with Dynautics on autopilot systems for other vessels in their range, HydroSurv approached the team again for the development and installation of updated autopilot technology to drive this new thruster type.
Challenges
Rim-driven thruster designs have advanced significantly over the past two decades, with new models giving powerful leverage and high torque at lower speeds than conventional motors. The hubless design of the impellers also minimises friction, which improves efficiency and reduces noise for electrically propelled boats. HydroSurv selected RDT propulsion for the new REAV-47 to reduce the risk of weed or fishing line entanglement, or tether fouling when towing instruments or hosting tethered ROV platforms - for which the company needed a customised autopilot solution.
Extensive experience in the development of CAN bus-based interfaces was critical to project success, and the system needed to be of modular design, so that the new interface could be installed without impacting the existing control system. HydroSurv was confident that Dynautics could deliver a tested and proven solution within its tight timescale.
Approach
Dynautics designs in a modular way and has worked extensively on the development of CAN bus interfaces. As with all its projects, the company made extensive use of automated simulation and testing, so that the new control system was thoroughly trialled prior to delivery to HydroSurv.
Dynautics created a test environment to run the thruster in its laboratory, with RDT helpfully providing comprehensive information on their product. Dynautics conducted inhouse water tank testing prior to planned sea trials by HydroSurv using twin thrusters on the vessel itself.
Solution
Dynautics delivered a fast turnaround solution with which to integrate new rim-driven thruster technology into its long-term client HydroSurv’s vessels. The solution dovetailed into HydroSurv’s existing systems, giving the team a clear development and delivery path to install the technology on future vessels, including the smaller REAV-25, developed to align with MGN 702 MiniMASS Code, and sharing much of the same technology as the REAV-47.
“Our partnership with Dynautics has been instrumental to HydroSurv’s product development journey since we entered the USV market in 2019. The third-generation REAV-47 and REAV-25 platforms are the result of close collaboration with our customers and draw on over five years of experience in delivering USV solutions that drive immediate value for survey contractors. We’re excited for a strong pipeline of USV deliveries in 2025, with Dynautics playing a key role in supporting this next phase of deployment.” David Hull, HydroSurv CEO
“It was a pleasure to work on yet another USV project with HydroSurv. The combination of the new thruster with independent steering gives the company another very capable craft. The REAV-47 is inherently scalable and will make a valuable addition to HydroSurv’s already comprehensive range of USV technology.” Henry Robinson, Dynautics CEO
Fugro to extend geotechnical surveys for Dogger Bank South offshore wind farms
Fugro has been awarded a contract to perform comprehensive geotechnical surveys for the eastern array of the Dogger Bank South (DBS) offshore wind farms, a major initiative led by RWE and Masdar to develop one of the UK's most powerful offshore wind energy projects. The detailed investigations will provide data on subsurface conditions at planned wind turbine locations, inter-array cable routes, and platform foundations, directly informing the safe and efficient design of the wind farms.
Starting in mid-May, Fugro will mobilise multiple geotechnical vessels to carry out the fieldwork 122 km off the northeast coast of England. This will include a range of techniques such as cone penetration tests (CPTs), vibrocores, and sampling boreholes. To ensure robust and rapid collection of deep seabed data, Fugro will use its advanced SEACALF® MkV Deep Drive® system. This technology enhances the efficiency and reliability of seabed investigations, contributing to faster project delivery and reduced environmental impact.
The project will also use VirGeo®, a collaborative cloud-based Geo-data platform, to centralise project information and streamline data delivery to all stakeholders.
Colin McAllister, Development Project Lead for DBS offshore wind farms, stated: “This year’s site investigation at the eastern array builds upon similar work completed at the western array in 2024. The level of detail obtained from these surveys is crucial in developing the most effective foundation designs for each location. The DBS projects are critical infrastructure projects and have the potential to supply 3 million homes with 3 GW of offshore wind generation capacity, supporting the UK Government’s clean power ambitions.”
John ten Hoope, Fugro’s Regional Business Line Director for Marine Site Characterisation in Europe and Africa, commented: “We are proud to continue our work on the Dogger Bank South offshore wind farms. Our detailed geotechnical investigations will provide a comprehensive understanding of the seabed conditions, crucial for the project's success. This ongoing collaboration underscores the trust RWE and Masdar place in our capabilities and highlights our commitment to advancing these significant renewable energy projects.”
This contract builds on previous work Fugro has completed for the DBS offshore wind farm including preliminary geophysical and geotechnical investigations, a shallow geotechnical survey on the export cable route, and a detailed geotechnical investigation of DBS west.
COAST and the University of Victoria Launch the BC Marine Energy and Decarbonization Hub
In a significant stride for the Canadian clean energy transition, two leaders in British Columbia’s ocean innovation sector have announced a joint initiative today that forges brand new pathways for the development and commercialization of cutting-edge marine renewable energy and decarbonization technologies in British Columbia.
The BC Marine Energy and Decarbonization Hub (the Hub) is a core initiative of COAST, Pacific Canada’s hub for the sustainable blue economy, delivered in partnership with the University of Victoria. The Hub is the culmination of three decades of community-centred clean energy research and innovation conducted at the University of Victoria by the Institute for Integrated Energy Systems (IESVic), Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED) and Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET).
Recognizing both the hurdles and opportunities at the heart of Canada’s effort to decarbonize the ocean sector, these partners have joined forces to amplify their capacities and create new opportunities for high-impact ocean innovation.
Ultimately, the Hub stands to pave the way for a new wave of decarbonization technologies to take hold in British Columbia and Canada—which in turn will empower a rising class of ocean entrepreneurs to find new opportunities for innovation and improve outcomes across the board. As a result, the Hub will serve as a catalyst for new job creation and regional economic development, expanding the reach and deepening the impact of Canada’s clean technology industries.
The Hub leverages existing infrastructure and capacity to offer ocean sector companies the opportunity to test and demonstrate technologies in coastal and marine test sites related to:
• Marine renewable energy capture.
• Energy integration and management, including energy storage and grid integration technologies.
• Innovative distribution and/or uses of energy including production, storage and transmission of clean fuels.
As deadlines for Canadian emissions reduction and net-zero targets loom, it is a national imperative to create accessible pathways for the creation and adoption of renewable marine energies. However, the development of marine renewable energy alone is insufficient to comprehensively decarbonize Canada’s ocean industries.
The systems and supply chain surrounding ocean sector activities must also evolve: from storage capacity to energy distribution, maritime decarbonization must complement renewable energy development. To facilitate engagement with the most apt technologies, the Hub will issue Innovation Challenges in partnership with key regional stakeholders. Companies will respond to these calls for innovation and propose their technology as a potential solution. The first of these challenges will be issued in late 2025.
The BC Marine Energy and Decarbonization Hub is unique in that it seeks to address both aspects of this challenge, yielding complementary solutions with potential for integration all along the complex marine supply chain. British Columbia offers an ideal location for this effort, with the country’s largest maritime industry, the longest coastline of any province and over 70% of its population located in coastal areas (Province of BC, 2022).
Funding for the Hub comes from the federal (Pacific Economic Development Canada) and provincial government (BC Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions) as well as the RBC Foundation, and will support the Hub's establishment and operation for four years (2025-2028). During this time, the Hub team will maintain and evolve crucial assets that support resource assessment, innovation and commercialization, project planning, stakeholder engagement and knowledge dissemination.