HydroPort Demo Day
Could hydrogen play a role in decarbonising the maritime sector?
Decarbonising maritime transport is not a simple challenge. Vessels operate in very different environments and have different requirements for range, power, fuel and infrastructure. For some applications, electrification may be suitable. For others, alternative fuels such as hydrogen could have a role to play.
The question is not simply whether hydrogen can be used at sea. It is whether the whole system around it can work in practice.
From seawater to maritime use
Hydrogen needs to be produced, stored and ultimately used before it can become a practical fuel.
This is what makes HydroPort particularly interesting. The Innovate UK project is bringing together technology providers, academia and the maritime sector to demonstrate a complete seawater-to-hydrogen solution.
Latent Drive has developed SeaStack, a direct seawater-to-hydrogen electrolyser stack. The hydrogen produced will be stored using technology developed by Logan Energy, before being used to power a marine vessel developed by the University of Exeter.
It creates a clear journey:
Produce → Store → Use
But there is another important part of the picture: understanding where this technology could actually be used.
What does the maritime sector need?
Alongside the technology development, Saline is supporting the market research and engagement element of HydroPort.
We have been speaking with organisations across the maritime sector, including ports, harbours, marinas and vessel operators, to understand their operations, challenges and views on hydrogen.
This is helping to explore some of the practical questions around adoption: Where could hydrogen be useful? What infrastructure would be needed? What would operators need to consider? And what barriers could affect its wider use?
Technology development and market understanding need to happen alongside each other. A solution needs to work technically, but it also needs to make sense for the people and organisations that could ultimately use it.
Seeing the technology in action
Demonstration projects provide an opportunity to move beyond the theory and see how different technologies can work together in a real-world setting.
That is what HydroPort Demo Day is designed to showcase.
On 22 October 2026, the HydroPort project partners will come together at Portland Port for a live demonstration of SeaStack, alongside speakers and discussion covering hydrogen, maritime technology and the wider business landscape.
The speaker programme includes:
Chris Steel – Hydrogen South West
Dan Pritchard – Tech South West
Rebecca Davies – Dorset Chamber
Matt Hodson – Maritime UK South West
The day will bring together businesses, maritime organisations, technology providers and industry experts to see the technology in action and discuss what it could mean for the sector.
HydroPort Demo Day
22 October 2026 | Portland Port, Dorset