Mersey Maritime Ltd - Experts & Thought Leaders

At Mersey Maritime, they are proud to share The Danny’s Maritime Heritage, Maritime Futures Campaign – a transformative initiative that celebrates the region’s rich maritime history whilst creating exciting opportunities for education and community engagement. This innovative campaign is about more than preserving the past; it’s about inspiring the future. Maritime innovation The Danny, or the Daniel Adamson, is a beautifully restored 1903 steamship that serves as a living link to the golden age of British engineering and maritime innovation. Once a vessel for industrialists and dignitaries, she now provides an extraordinary platform for storytelling, education, and community connection, offering a unique way to engage with the region’s maritime identity. Support the MHMF 20/20 Campaign Funds raised will directly support educational outreach programs with schools The Maritime Heritage, Maritime Futures (MHMF) 20/20 Campaign aims to raise £20,000 with the help of 20 local businesses pledging £1,000 each.  Funds raised will directly support educational outreach programs with schools, colleges, and universities, engaging young people with maritime history, skills, and career pathways. Why the business should get involved Becoming a campaign supporter is an opportunity to showcase the commitment to education, sustainability, and heritage preservation. It’s also a chance to align the business with a campaign that’s making a tangible difference in the community. Benefits for supporters include: Featuring the company logo on Danny’s website Special recognition in campaign materials and brochures Maritime Heritage, Maritime Futures Partnership Badge for use on sponsor websites and signatures Invitation to future MHMF events hosted by The Danny Two complimentary tickets for a cruise of choice The impact so far: Since beginning the journey to connect with the community and young people, previous support has allowed The Danny to make a real difference. This includes: Over 210 young people from colleges, youth groups, and alternative education settings have engaged with The Danny, learning valuable skills and history. 330 children and their families have enjoyed Danny’s family activity days, STEM events, and cruises - sparking curiosity and joy. Danny has inspired 1,500 older adults through talks to U3A and other local activity groups, enriching their knowledge and sense of community. Danny has hosted 30 open days with free tours of the vessel, offering everyone the chance to explore and learn. Maritime heritage This is the opportunity to champion the Liverpool City Region’s maritime legacy whilst contributing to a sustainable future for the sector. To learn more about the campaign or to pledge support, visit The Danny’s website or get in touch with them at Mersey Maritime. Together, they can ensure that their maritime heritage continues to inspire and empower future generations.

Pound for pound the global shipping industry is certainly not one of the main culprits when it comes to carbon emissions and human-induced climate change. Despite the maritime sector handling 90% of the world’s trade it accounts for just 3% of all human CO2 emissions. However, the industry still has to do its bit to combat global warming and has committed to becoming net zero by 2050. Cost and complexity But the cost and complexity of this transition is immense and the industry faces huge challenges over the coming decades if it is to be successful in its efforts to decarbonise global shipping. That is the stark message offered by Dr. Thomas Beard, a chartered engineer and the clean maritime lead at BMT, as well as the BMT Global lead on alternative fuels. BMT is an international design, engineering, science, and risk management consultancy. Face-2-Face networking event Fossil fuels are perfect for the job but in the coming years, they will cease to be an option Dr. Beard was addressing Liverpool city region maritime leaders at the monthly Mersey Maritime Face-2-Face networking event which this month was held on the main campus of Liverpool John Moores University. Although the technical challenges may be complex, the overall problem is simple- container ships, tankers, and cargo vessels are all big and heavy and require a lot of energy to move from A to B, which can often be thousands of miles away. Fossil fuels are perfect for the job but in the coming years, they will cease to be an option. There are alternatives but when we look at the choices it is obvious there are no clear winners. Electricity Electricity is the cleanest way of powering transport but when you have something as big as a ship, or a passenger plane, the current size, weight and charging capacity of batteries make it unsuitable for all but short sea commercial shipping. “This is a very big passion of mine,” said Dr. Beard, who is also a member of the two UK maritime hydrogen working groups, co-chairing the National Maritime group, and is on the steering group for a research program on ammonia in maritime. “The International Maritime Organization (a branch of the United Nations) wants a minimum 20%, but is striving for 40%, reduction in emissions by 2030 and 70% to 80% by 2040,” he added. Energy-saving technologies “We can use energy-saving or energy-efficient technologies on vessels to try to drop that. That is feasible if the vessels operate the way they are supposed to – but not all of them do and that immediately gives us an issue." “The IMO is hoping for 5% to 10% conversion to alternative fuels by 2030. An alternative fuel is anything that is not derived from fossil fuels. Hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol all count – but only if they are the green variants. But the only way we get to net zero by 2050 is by changing fuels.” Use alternative fuels Dr. Beard said the industry was in a “chicken or egg” situation between ports and vessels. What comes first – the vessels or the port infrastructure? He explained, “It is all centered around finances because if it doesn’t work for someone economically, they won’t do it." “At the moment all these alternative fuels cost a lot more so we are going to have to start taxing or introducing regulation that will drive the cost of fossil fuels high enough that they will have to use alternative fuels.” Pros and cons Pros and cons of the various fuel options including LNG, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, and synthetic diesel He went on to explain the pros and cons of the various fuel options including LNG (which he says is only a transition fuel at best), hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, and synthetic diesel. Safety is a massive issue with all these alternatives, explained Dr Beard. All are flammable to varying degrees and ammonia is highly toxic. He raised the nightmare scenario of an ammonia leak on or near a cruise ship. Safety Safety isn’t just an issue for crew and passengers but also for ports when vessels are docked. Many local fire services are not equipped to deal with the types of fires that could occur. “My view is that we use bunker vessels (small tankers that refuel ships) a lot more,” he added. “What that allows us to do is get the quantities of fuel that we need. That allows us to store it somewhere safely and refuel vessels at sea.” Road to decarbonisation Governments have to hit shipping companies and ports “with a club” and force them to change via taxation In conclusion, Dr. Beard observed that the road to decarbonisation was strewn with multiple variables, economics being a key one. Subsidies are essential but he also insists Governments have to hit shipping companies and ports “with a club” and force them to change via taxation. “There is not enough green fuel and there is not enough green power full stop. It is a struggle and the message is to electrify wherever you can,” he said. Carbon saved  “We have come a long way and with the uptake of a lot of these fuels now all the flag states are talking about it but we need to remove competition between them. One of my biggest fears shoreside is planning. Everyone wants it, they just don’t want it next to them." “But we need to act. We can do it and we have to do it. A tonne of carbon saved today is worth a damn sight more than a tonne of carbon saved tomorrow – so we need to start doing this now.” Maritime energy transition "In summarising Dr. Beard’s insights, it’s clear that the economic drivers are just as pivotal as the technical solutions in advancing the maritime energy transition," said Tony McDonough, LBN News.  "He underscores that the high costs of alternative fuels and the need for extensive port infrastructure investment are key obstacles that demand government intervention. According to Dr. Beard, taxation and subsidies are crucial mechanisms to incentivise a shift towards green fuels and infrastructure development." Safety, availability, and fuel compatibility "While safety, availability, and fuel compatibility remain significant challenges, Dr. Beard believes that proactive policy measures and financial commitments are necessary to make alternative fuels economically viable at scale." "His message is urgent – the shipping industry must act swiftly to begin decarbonising now, as immediate reductions in emissions are increasingly valuable in the race against climate change."

A new agreement has been signed to secure the future of Liverpool City Council in a major deal announced on Wednesday 3rd April between Global Ports Holding Plc (GPH) and Peel Ports Group. The agreement will see the world’s largest independent cruise port operator operate services at Liverpool Cruise Terminal for a period of 50 years. Crucially, it will see GPH invest some £25 million in upgrading the terminal’s infrastructure, improving its operational capability and helping it maximise future growth potential. Cruise industry’s major contribution to Liverpool Commenting, Ruth Wood, Chief Executive of Mersey Maritime, said “The cruise industry makes a massive contribution to the prosperity of the city of Liverpool and has gone from strength to strength in recent years under the stewardship of Liverpool City Council." Ruth Wood adds, "The figures speak for themselves: since 2008 the city has welcomed over 800 vessels and one million passengers; representing a contribution of £110 million to the city’s visitor economy.” She continues, “As the representative body for the maritime sector in the Liverpool City Region, Mersey Maritime knows the crucial importance that cruise makes on so many levels, from its significant tourism impact through to all the people employed by the industry here.” Agreement to secure the future of Liverpool City Council Ruth Wood adds, “We are particularly delighted to see the significant investment this agreement brings with it. This includes the addition of a new floating pontoon to increase capacity and allow for the simultaneous berthing of two 300-metre ships and up to 7,000 passengers a day. This has the potential to be truly transformational.” She further said, “This news comes just a few weeks away from another historic event which will take place on the River Mersey, the naming ceremony for Cunard’s newest vessel, the Queen Anne, on 3rd June.” Mersey Maritime congratulates team behind the agreement Ruth Wood continues, “Our river and our city are synonymous with all aspects of the diverse maritime sector, from our ports to shipbuilding to professional services and all the other parts that make it so important to the region.” She adds, “Mersey Maritime is delighted to add our congratulations to the team behind this important agreement and look forward to a really fantastic cruise season this year, and for many years to come.”