A scheme to have an electrically powered ferry operating between Falmouth and St Mawes has been given a £3M boost.

Marine Zero Ltd has been awarded more than £3million of funding from the Department for Transport to deliver an electric ferry and associated infrastructure for the Falmouth to St Mawes route.

The award was announced this week by Baroness Vere of Norbiton, Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security as part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round three run by the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE).

The award of £3,046,686 is part of £60million funding being made nationally to help develop and demonstrate clean maritime solutions. These projects will leverage a further £30m in private investment.

The MorVoRen (Moored Volts from Renewables – also Mermaid in Cornish) project will deliver a new fully electric Domestic Passenger Vessel (DPV).

This will be achieved by designing a new 100% electric vessel which will operate on the Falmouth to St Mawes ferry route, including the provision of new charging infrastructure.

The projects results and outcomes will be relevant to many other similar locations in the UK, pricing the technologies to provide 100% electric short ferry routes for local communities.

Cherilyn Mackrory, Member of Parliament for Truro and Falmouth said: “It’s great to see more than £3million of Government funding awarded to Marine Zero Ltd for the MorVoRen project.

"I have long said that there is so much potential for Falmouth as a green and blue hub, and this project combines both.

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"It will provide a clean energy method of transport for residents of and visitors to Falmouth and St Mawes and the surrounding communities and will be another boost for Falmouth’s green credentials.

“I look forward to seeing the funding drawn down and work on this exciting project start!”

Fal River, the operators of the current St Mawes Ferry have been asked for a comment.