Henry Tse (Red Cross) and James Eatwell (Chevron) met in Prep and knew each other well before leaving Hurst in 1998. What a total surprise more than 20 years later to be collaborating on the same project and unexpectedly meeting up! 

The SHAPE UK project is leading the way in creating the future fuel ecosystem to power a decarbonised maritime sector and comprises of a group of industrial experts including both Henry and James.

Henry is the Director for New Mobility Technologies at Connected Places Catapult where looking at scaled up road maps means analysing how hydrogen, shore power and digital twin can deliver benefits to the port and associated operations. James is Head of Research & Development at Cox Powertrains who focus on the conversion of the novel diesel engine to dual fuel hydrogen operation; the aim being to retrofit standard diesel engines in port support vessels to be powered using up to 95% hydrogen. 

The decarbonisation of the maritime sector is a global challenge with global opportunities, where the UK can build on key strengths. The ports have a vital role to play as future energy hubs in the decarbonisation of maritime, but also across multiple transport modes and communities.

Hydrogen presents significant opportunities as a future fuel for the maritime sector, as well as other transport modes. As multi-modal transport hubs, at the interface of land and sea, ports have a crucial role to play in enabling and supporting the transition to a cleaner maritime sector and a cleaner future for coastal communities.

Great to see these gentlemen reunited for such an interesting project. One never knows when the past will appear!