HARWICH Haven Authority and engineering company PurpleSector have been awarded a £177,0000 government grant which will help the port by using motorsport-inspired technology.

The grant is from the Department for Transport’s smart shipping acceleration fund, which was open to all UK registered organisations, with £7.7million already being funded to 30 projects.

The project will use motorsport-derived concepts to optimise scheduling, reduce carbon emissions and lower costs – building on PurpleSector’s expertise in transferring Formula 1 expertise to commercial applications.

PurpleSector was launched in 2020 after chief executive Mark Mathieson was contacted to use Formula One know-how to drive ventilator production during the pandemic.

This led to to PurpleSector taking part in an initiative to re-engineer and mass produce ventilators – helping to deliver 23 years’ worth of normal production in just 12 weeks.

Honoured - Mark Mathieson was awarded an MBE in 2021 for ‘services to the Ventilator Challenge’Honoured - Mark Mathieson was awarded an MBE in 2021 for ‘services to the Ventilator Challenge’ (Image: Submitted)

PurpleSector chief exec Mark Mathieson said: “Our innovative techniques have the potential to revolutionise carbon reduction in port operations as well as delivering operational benefits.

"We’re fortunate to collaborate with such a forward-thinking and environmentally conscious partner as Harwich Haven Authority.”

Harwich Haven Authority chief exec Sarah West said: “This is great news and we’re confident that the outcomes from the feasibility study will be of great benefit to our customers utilising the facilities at Haven ports.

“We’re very excited to be working with leading motorsport technology innovators PurpleSector as we look to both reduce carbon emissions and implement smart technology to both streamline and improve the capabilities of our operations.”

The Harwich Haven Authority will provide direction on how to deliver the technical approach as well as the economics needed for the business model.

A feasibility study will run from November 2024 to March 2025 and will focus on the authority's pilot launch vessel operations, to prove the technology can enhance efficiency and sustainability.

If successful, the project will the move forward to a full proof of concept development.