CGI, one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world, has secured funding from the UK Government through its SEEDS (Sustainability Exploration and Environmental Data Science) program for a new initiative, MaritimeTwin. The initiative aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions from shipping by up to 15 %. The project will use cutting-edge satellite and digital twin technology to optimize shipping routes and reduce environmental impact, supporting the UK’s Clean Maritime Plan and net-zero goals.
Image Credit: Maritime UK
Led by CGI with Maritime UK, and the Industrial Decarbonization Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC) at Heriot-Watt University, the project will bring together world-class expertise in digital innovation, maritime research and industry standards. It will also include CGI's proven CGI DataTwin360 and EcoHub platforms. The MaritimeTwin prototype will integrate real-time satellite data with advanced digital twin technology, a virtual representation of a real-world object, system, or process. This will enable accurate route planning, fuel consumption optimization, and emissions monitoring to help support decarbonization whilst strengthening the UK's position as a clean maritime technology leader, driving economic growth and highly skilled jobs.
MaritimeTwin will provide shipping operators with a powerful tool to simulate various scenarios, with an outcome of allowing data-driven decisions that balance operational efficiency with environmental impact. This features the innovative incorporation of real-time environmental data, including weather patterns, ocean currents, and port conditions. Crucially, it will have the ability to continuously learn and offer more precision through machine-learning algorithms.
Mattie Yeta, CGI UK’s Chief Sustainability Officer said: “This award enables the development of a demonstrator that leverages real-time data to deliver tangible impact across the maritime sector. This project addresses the urgent need for maritime decarbonization but also strengthens the UK's position as a leader in clean maritime technology, driving economic growth and creating high-skilled jobs in the sector.”
Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer, IDRIC’s Director at Heriot-Watt University said: "The pace and complexity of pathways to decarbonization for maritime transport demands rigorous and independent research. We are delighted to be able to leverage the expertise that IDRIC has built up over the past four years. The MaritimeTwin consortium will enable rapid development and deployment of a transformative solution for the maritime industry through close collaboration and access to real-world testing to accelerate commercialization.”
Chris Shirling-Rooke MBE, Chief Executive, Maritime UK said: "Maritime UK is proud to play a role in the MaritimeTwin CMDC6 project. Our focus is on ensuring that end users and industry stakeholders are meaningfully engaged and represented throughout the project, providing forums where they can help to shape a solution that is both technically robust and market viable. By providing a clear strategy and forums for engagement, we seek to align innovation with real-world industry needs.”
Neale Ryan, Head of Land & Maritime Transport at Innovate UK, said: “The MaritimeTwin initiative shows what can be achieved when we rethink every part of maritime technology - from engine design to IT systems. CGI's digital twin system has exciting potential to help UK and international vessels find smarter, lower-carbon routes that could make a marked reduction in shipping emissions. It is a prime example of the exciting ways that UK SHORE-funded projects are setting a course for a more sustainable maritime sector.”
SEEDS successfully secured funding through the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) Round 6, part of a suite of interventions launched by the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE). UK SHORE aims to transform the UK into a global leader in the design and manufacturing of clean maritime technology whilst the focus of the CMDC Round 6 is to fund pre-deployment trials and feasibility studies into clean maritime technologies and skills that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.