ASSOCIATED British Ports (ABP), owners and operators of Southampton docks, is helping to fund major research which will help the maritime industry develop innovative and cost-effective solutions to many environmental issues facing the sector today.

ABP's environment department and research subsidiary, ABP Marine Environmental Research, is working closely with future leaders in their fields by sponsoring three students undertaking doctoral research at the University of Southampton.

For each study year, ABP is providing a bursary to each student to assist them with the cost of their studies and research projects.

ABP, which is also sponsoring students at Exeter University and University College London, is funding research totalling more than £100,000.

For several years now, ABP has supported a number of students undertaking MSc and PhD studies in the Schools of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Engineering and Geography, at the University of Southampton.

ABP is currently sponsoring two PhD students from the School of Geography and a student studying for an engineering doctorate.

Southampton University PhD student, Sarah Wiggins' research project is centred around analysing the regulations covering the UK's coastal environment.

Her goal is to produce a "toolkit'' that will provide guidelines and practical tips on how to navigate this complex regulatory system and also suggest ways on how businesses can ensure they comply with UK coastal and environment legislation.

Pippa Wood, also a PhD student at Southampton University, is collecting detailed data on the feeding patterns, behaviour and preferred habitats of birds that use Southampton Water.

With this data, Pippa will produce a computer model that will be able to simulate changes to the birds' surroundings, for example, flooding or coastal development. These data findings will allow environmental scientists to predict what effect these changes will have on the behaviour and feeding patterns of birds using Southampton Water.

Currently in the first year of a four-year engineering doctorate at Southampton University, Ed Rogers is investigating the environmental aspects of port dredging and the techniques used to dispose of paint residue from ship repair operations.

Ian Schofield, ABP's engineering director with responsibility for the company's environment department, said: "It is a primary objective of ABP to grow our business, and to develop in a sustainable manner.

"The research being undertaken by these students will further strengthen our ability to make informed decisions about our business and the environment in which we operate, and also assist the wider ports industry to address key environmental issues."