Solent wins Maritime UK Award for Clean Maritime Enabler

Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was named Clean Maritime Enabler at the Maritime UK Awards in Glasgow.

The award recognised the partnership’s investments to support green innovation in the region – including Southampton’s new Horizon cruise terminal, complete with solar power generation and shore power, and an Enzyme Innovation Centre for the breakdown of plastics.

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The partnership’s chief executive, Anne-Marie Mountifield, said: “We’re delighted to have won this award.

“The Solent is a hugely important coastal community and as a result we have invested £15.4m in a green innovation programme that has unlocked a further £50.3m of private sector investment to deliver several key projects,” she added.

“These include a shore power facility at the Port of Southampton, making it the first major commercial berth and cruise terminal fitted with this technology in the UK; the Horizon Cruise Terminal at the Port of Southampton, which has solar generation and shore power, providing a world-leading zero emissions facility for cruise vessels in port; the Centre for Enzyme Innovation, which is developing green recovery solutions for the breakdown of plastics, enabling their re-use, tackling one of the world’s greatest pollution challenges; and a project focusing on removing 3,431kg of nitrate pollution p.a. from the Solent marine ecosystem.

“We are thrilled that our work in supporting greater sustainability in the Solent’s maritime sector has been recognised on this important national stage.”

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Also coming away with a trophy was Cowes Enterprise College, named winner of the Future Skills Award.

Government contractor Serco, based in Hook, was named Diversity Champion of the Year at the ceremony as Glasgow Science Centre.