Who

A fully automated net positive submarine fleet, powered entirely on hydrogen, could help cleanse the oceans of toxic pollution. Developed by London-based startup Oceanways, the submarine was named among the winners of the UK government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition last year.

What

First working prototype ready for mission test. (Image: Oceanways)

A green hydrogen-powered submarine system aims to restore the ocean while transporting cargo. The fully automated submarine fleet, powered entirely on green hydrogen, could help cleanse the oceans of toxic pollution by collecting microplastics on its pilot route between Glasgow in Scotland and Belfast in Northern Ireland. While transporting cargo shipments, the fleet could secure significant emission savings of 27 tonnes of CO2 emissions in the first year of operation, with an overall mission to reduce 300 million tonnes of CO2 emissions as the fleet grows. The autonomous submarine has a 3D-printed hull and uses sensors for navigation, research, and communications. As the submarine moves underwater, it will not only filter microplastics and microfibers out of the ocean, but also collect information and data on ocean health via the onboard sensors.

Where

London, United Kingdom

Why

Hydrogen-powered submarine concept design. (Image: Oceanways)

The team hopes that their submarine system will gather information from the sea, collecting data on how much plastic is currently in the water and where the concentration is the highest.

When

Oceanways is finalizing the engineering design of its working prototype for its first mission test. It is being designed to deliver cargo in a twenty-foot container between Glasgow and Belfast this summer.

Contact Dhruv Boruah, CEO and Founder, Oceanways, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..