First phase of £15m Maritime Knowledge Hub open

Phase one of the new multi-million pound Maritime Knowledge Hub on the Wirral has opened.

UK Shipping Minister Robert Goodwill MP was on hand to mark the official launch of the Hub, which brings together the key maritime assets of the Liverpool City Region to create a centre for research and development, innovation, education, training and business support.

It is hoped that the £15m invested in the site will allow the UK to acquire an even greater share of the global maritime industries market, which is estimated to be worth as much as £3000bn.

Once complete, the Hub will house serviced space for startups, an offshore survival and marine simulation centre and a facility in which manufacturers will be able to develop their products and services.

Sector development organisation Mersey Maritime will operate the site alongside Liverpool John Moores University.

Shipping Minister Robert Goodwill said: “I am delighted to have opened the first phase of this new state-of-the-art hub which will help create skilled maritime jobs on Merseyside.

“This partnership between private, public and academic organisations is key to ensuring that our next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs are ready to succeed.”

He continued: “Merseyside has a rich maritime history and the future is looking bright thanks to major projects such as the Maritime Knowledge Hub and the deep water container terminal Liverpool2 at the Port of Liverpool.

“The Government will continue to offer its full support to the maritime industry, a sector which is vitally important to the UK economy.”

The maritime sector is responsible for around 12% of the Liverpool City Region’s GDP. The area is home to one of Europe’s biggest clusters of maritime businesses, with around 1,300 operating near the city.

With support from the LCR Local Enterprise Partnership, the Hub is being driven by a partnership comprising Mersey Maritime, Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), Wirral Council and port operator Peel Group.

Mersey Maritime’s chief executive, Chris-Shirling-Rooke, said: “This is more than just providing the right conditions for innovation, knowledge sharing and skills development, it’s about providing the very best environment there is.

“We already have a strong base of industries clustered around the port but more needs to be done and our approach is influenced by successful models in countries such as Norway and Singapore.”

LJMU’s executive dean of the faculty of engineering and technology, Prof. Ahmed Al-Shamma’a, acknowledged that while the scale of opportunity is “massive”, there is a skills gap that needs to be addressed.

He added: “It’s essential to develop the talent that local firms and wider industry need to grow and compete, and the Knowledge Hub will help deliver that.”