The UK government has revealed it is supporting industry plans for a multi-million pound Global Underwater Engineering Hub in Aberdeen, Scotland
The planned Global Underwater Engineering Hub aims to reinforce the UK’s status as a global leader in the field and build on expertise in subsea robotics, remotely-operated underwater vehicles and maritime support vessels.
Seizing the opportunities in the blue economy will also allow the UK’s oil and gas sector to diversify and will support the UK move away from fossil fuels towards clean growth.
Prime Minister Theresa May said: “Today I can announce that the UK government is backing plans for a new Global Underwater Hub in Aberdeen, helping established businesses thrive and creating new opportunities as the world makes the shift towards clean growth.
“Cementing Aberdeen’s place as an energy hub for offshore and renewables, the new hub would bring together areas of excellence in underwater technology under a single commercial vision. It would support industry, generate new skilled jobs and help us in the fight against climate change.”
Following the backing from the UK government, industry has been encouraged to develop a business case for the Global Underwater Engineering Hub for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to review.
UK government Business Minister Andrew Stephenson added: “As the UK continues to transition towards a low-carbon economy, the Global Underwater Engineering Hub can help the region rise to the challenge of this transition, helping to anchor the UK’s expert engineering supply chain here in the north east of Scotland.
“It will build on the UK’s position as a world leader in underwater technology and skills, which can be exported around the globe in growing sectors like renewables and decommissioning.”
