UK Shipping Minister Robert Goodwill MP has formally opened a new ‘Maritime Knowledge Hub’ in Wirral, UK, jointly operated by Mersey Maritime and Liverpool John Moores University.
Operated jointly by sector development organisation Mersey Maritime and Liverpool John Moores University , the new facility will be a global centre of excellence within the UK, generating knowledge-led growth and innovation.
First announced at London International Shipping Week (LISW) last year, the aim of the £15m ($21m) Maritime Knowledge Hub is to create a regional focal point for innovation, research & development, education and training and business support, enabling the UK to capture a greater share in the estimated £3000bn shipping market.
The Hub will ultimately include serviced business start-up space and support, an offshore survival centre and marine simulation centre, and a facility to help manufacturers design, test and build products or services.
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.”
The £300 million deep water container terminal, Liverpool2, is scheduled to open later this year. The terminal has been designed to provide a berth for deep sea container vessels, presenting an opportunity for significant growth in freight entering the north-west, underlying the importance of the maritime sector in the region.