MarineShift360 has unveiled the first cohort of its Impact Accelerator Program, selecting three pioneering organizations to advance sustainability across the marine industry.
Image Credit: MarineShift360
Following a competitive selection process, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI, United Kingdom and Ireland), Secfuel (Sweden), and BAR Technologies (United Kingdom) were chosen for their potential to drive measurable environmental impact and accelerate industry-wide transformation.
Each participant will receive tailored technical support, life cycle assessment (LCA) expertise, a paid internship, and access to MarineShift360’s industry network over the next year to help scale their impact.
Led by Marine Futures and supported by 11th Hour Racing, MarineShift360 is designed to deliver measurable impact and fast-track decarbonization across the marine industry.
Ollie Taylor, Director of MarineShift360, said: “These three organizations demonstrate the innovation needed to drive real change across the industry. The Accelerator Program will equip them with the tools and expertise to scale their environmental impact. By embedding sustainability at the heart of marine innovation, we’re showing that environmental responsibility is a commercial advantage, not a cost.”
The RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea, is undertaking a full LCA of its inshore lifeboat fleet to identify emissions hotspots and opportunities for more efficient vessel design.
With 238 lifeboat stations and evolving rescue demands, the RNLI is integrating sustainability to optimize the next generation of lifeboats, ensuring it can continue its mission with a reduced environmental footprint.
Katie Young, Head of Performance and Sustainability at RNLI said: “The collaboration with Marine Futures is one of the steps in embedding sustainability into the heart of our design process. By applying life cycle assessment, we’re building a clearer understanding of the environmental impact of our lifesaving assets — not just today, but throughout their entire operational life.”
Secfuel is tackling one of the industry’s biggest barriers to decarbonization: access to sustainable marine fuels. Its unmanned, self-service refuelling stations are designed for renewable options like HVO, XTL, ethanol and emerging e-fuels. The company is piloting its first station in southern Europe, aiming to make clean fuel solutions more accessible across the Mediterranean.
Karl-Oskar Tjernström, Co-Founder at Secfuel, said: “We are thrilled to join the MarineShift360 Impact Accelerator and see this as a fantastic opportunity to validate Secfuel’s technology through a comprehensive life cycle assessment. This study will not only strengthen our commercialization and expansion strategy but also support our mission to accelerate the distribution of sustainable drop-in fuels on a larger scale. We believe this partnership will be a significant step forward in driving real change within the marine sector.”
BAR Technologies is transforming commercial shipping through wind-assisted propulsion. Its WindWings® system is a three-element wing sail designed to reduce fuel consumption by 1.5 tonnes per wing and 4.7 tonnes of CO2 per day on global shipping routes. The company is refining its designs and embedding sustainability practices throughout product development.
Lauren Eatwell, BAR Technologies Head of WindWings®, said: “Securing this funding marks a significant step forward in our commitment to sustainability and innovation. The MarineShift360 project will enable us to conduct a comprehensive life cycle assessment of our WindWings® technology, refine our material and design choices, and embed sustainability at every stage of development.
“By training our teams and standardizing our approach to carbon impact analysis, we are not only improving our products but also setting a new benchmark for responsible innovation in our industry. We’re excited to drive this initiative forward and look forward to sharing our progress.”
As a founding supporter of MarineShift360, 11th Hour Racing is committed to accelerating sustainability across the marine industry.
Jeremy Pochman, Co-Founder and CEO at 11th Hour Racing, said: “The marine industry must act boldly, today, driving innovation to meet urgent environmental action. These three organizations exemplify the leadership needed to shape a sustainable future for our oceans. Through the Impact Accelerator, we are supporting their growth, as they demonstrate that environmental responsibility can drive competitive advantage and systemic change across the sector.”
Beyond these three participants, the Impact Accelerator Program aims to spark industry-wide change, proving that sustainability is not just an ethical necessity but a strategic business advantage.