Lloyd’s Register (LR) has announced the creation of the International Maritime Future Technologies Innovation Centre in partnership with COSCO Shipping Group, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and the University of Southampton. This new virtual centre marks a major milestone in advancing research and development for low- and zero-carbon maritime technologies, intelligent ship systems, and digital transformation across the global shipping industry.
The centre is designed as a collaborative platform uniting academia and industry to accelerate the maritime sector’s transition towards a smarter, more sustainable future. Its primary mission is to convert advanced research into scalable, real-world solutions that can be implemented across global fleets.
Led by COSCO Shipping Group, the initiative leverages each partner’s unique expertise—ranging from technical standards and alternative fuels to vessel performance, intelligent navigation, and digital modelling. COSCO Shipping’s extensive operational data and fleet network will serve as a foundation for testing and validating emerging decarbonisation technologies under real-world conditions.
To maintain strategic alignment and drive continued progress, the founding partners have also established a Technical Committee. This body will oversee research priorities, ensure innovation continuity, and align developments with evolving maritime technical and regulatory frameworks.
The launch builds upon earlier collaborations between Lloyd’s Register, the Shanghai Shipping and Science Research Institute (a branch of COSCO Shipping Group), and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Their previous work developed a techno-economic model that evaluates multiple decarbonisation pathways and associated costs, providing valuable data-driven insights for sustainable fleet operations. The success of that initiative laid the groundwork for the establishment of the new innovation centre.
Nick Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Lloyd’s Register, highlighted the partnership’s purpose, stating that it represents a tangible step from ambition to action—combining innovation, data, and technology to tackle the maritime energy transition while driving progress that benefits both business and society.
Professor Fraser Sturt, Director of the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute at the University of Southampton, underscored the value of international collaboration, noting that global challenges such as maritime decarbonisation can only be addressed through shared expertise and collective research.
This partnership stands as a testament to the industry’s growing commitment to digitalisation, decarbonisation, and technological collaboration—paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable maritime future.
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Source: LR
