UK Marine News
Historic canalside hedgrows to be improved for wildlife Important hedgerows running alongside the Grand Union
Canal in Market Harborough are set to be improved thanks to a partnership project between the Canal & River Trust, Sustrans and Harborough District Council.
Hedgerows are invaluable for a wide range of species including field mice, voles and hedgehogs as well as a variety of birds and even amphibians. Along canals, with their abundance of wildlife and linear routes, the hedges provide corridors safe from the threat of predators and an important source of food. However, if left unmanaged the hedgerow will simply grow upwards and become a line of separate trees, leaving wildlife vulnerable to predators and the elements.
To prevent this, contractors will be carrying out hedgelaying, using traditional techniques which involve cutting stems and bending them so that over time they grow horizontally and intertwine, forming a thick, bushy barrier. Local volunteers will also have the opportunity to help deliver the habitat improvements.
World’s first hydrogen-electric boat driven by PCBFC completes real world testing
Bramble Energy has unveiled what is believed to be the world’s first hydrogen-electric boat driven by Printed Circuit Board Fuel Cell (PCBFC) technology, marking what it says is a revolutionary turning point in the history of the marine industry. The company made a significant step toward decarbonising the maritime industry when it successfully launched a 57-foot narrowboat in Sheffield, Yorkshire, in partnership with custom engine builder Barrus.
UK’s Shipping Forecast hits 100
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first broadcast of the Shipping Forecast, a quintessentially British thing and symbolic of a nation steeped in maritime tradition. The forecast was first broadcast on 1 January 1924.
The iconic Shipping Forecast is a BBC Radio broadcast produced by the Met Office on behalf of the MCA. Although the Shipping Forecast officially came into existence in 1924, it was in October 1925 when it was first broadcast via the BBC. “It’s a national institution,” says Met Office’s archivist Catherine Ross, “that has so much more meaning behind it than just a forecast. It’s iconic.
“It’s a history of the last 100 years of what’s happened around our shores, from a weather perspective of course but also maritime safety; the two are heavily linked and it is a big part of why the Met Office even exists.”
The history of the forecast goes back to 1861, when Vice- Admiral Robert FitzRoy developed a telegraphic messaging system to issue weather warnings to ships, following the loss of the steam clipper Royal Charter. The vessel founded (sank) in a violent storm off the coast of Anglesey, with the loss of more than 450 lives, prompting FitzRoy’s desire to prevent it happening again.
Ross believes the Shipping Forecast has saved thousands, possibly even hundreds of thousands of lives.
16 | ISSUE 107 | MAR 2024 | THE REPORT Image credit: Bramble Energy
As a component of the HyTime project, this demonstration vessel showcases the potential of Bramble Energy’s ground-breaking PCBFC technology to cut carbon emissions in marine transportation quickly and affordably. With its unique marine fuel cell system, the narrowboat can run emissions-free for up to 600 miles while utilising the 14 kg of hydrogen on board. Solar panels on the boat’s roof provide extra power, which charges a 22kWh battery system.
Built from the ground up in Sheffield, the narrowboat has a brand-new hydrogen system specifically designed to satisfy maritime regulations. For every boat that uses it, this cutting-edge powertrain technology has the potential to save up to 12 tonnes of CO2 annually.
After extensive testing on UK inland waterways, Bramble Energy’s Hydrogen Innovation Hub in Crawley will evaluate the fuel cell’s real-world performance through data analysis of the narrowboat. This analysis will facilitate a smooth transition to hydrogen and help fulfil emissions rules for cleaner and greener waterways. It will also contribute to the continuous development of PCBFC systems for broader maritime applications.
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