Plymouth to be the national centre for marine autonomy.
Following June’s South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster event (Friday 13th June), co-hosted with Plymouth City Council, it’s clear that Plymouth is the centre of the country’s marine autonomy — a huge endorsement of the city’s capability, vision, and strategic importance in this fast-evolving sector.
During the event, PASD Freeport CEO Richard May sat alongside partners from Plymouth City Council, the University of Plymouth, and Plymouth Marine Laboratory to spotlight how collaboration and innovation are unlocking this moment and the real momentum it brings — and how the Freeport is here to support.
As the only UK Freeport with a ‘behind the wire’ tax site, and with a focus on marine and defence, the Freeport offers:
✅ Strategic employment land opportunities
✅ Units ready for occupancy from Autumn 2025
✅ Reliefs, benefits and incentives to help businesses seize this moment.
To find out more about the Freeport property offer and incentives available to new and high growth businesses please contact Eifion Jones via eifion.jones@pasdfreeport.com
Full press release from Plymouth City Council:
Plymouth is to be the national centre for marine autonomy, the Defence Minister has announced in a keynote address at a major networking event in the city today.
The city is already making waves in this area of marine technology, but the announcement made by the Right Honourable Maria Eagle, Minister of State (Defence Procurement and Industry) will catapult the city and its expertise into the spotlight.
The timing of the news could not have been better – it came as the Plymouth City Council in partnership with the South West Regional Defence and Security Cluster, hosted an event in Devonport involving key figures from the world of marine and defence connecting with local companies to explore opportunities for future projects and investment.
Council Leader Tudor Evans OBE said: “This is superb news. We knew Plymouth was creating something special in the blue/green skills sector, but it is always great to see others endorse what you believe.
“We have some extraordinary businesses and organisations here in Plymouth who are at the cutting edge of this incredibly exciting sector. The world is waking up to all the possibilities marine autonomy offers and we are very keen indeed to help connect Plymouth businesses to the right people and the right organisations.
“Investing in Plymouth’s businesses for testing and developing marine autonomy will enable UK PLC to build sovereign capabilities and secure a significant share in this growing market, particularly in the fields of defence, renewables, and oil and gas.”
MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport Luke Pollard told the delegates that the nature of defence is changing. He said: “We have a strategic defence review that sets out that we will have fighting structure which includes marine autonomy.
“Defence is an engine for growth. This an opportunity to develop, scale up and test marine autonomy. This sector is incredible, innovative and the work we are doing in the city is cutting edge.
“There is a place for investment and that’s Plymouth.”
Professor Richard Davies, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Plymouth, said: “This acknowledges the key role Plymouth is already playing in the development and delivery of marine autonomy.
“But being recognised as the national centre of excellence represents a once in a lifetime opportunity that will open new doors for the University and our partners.
“Working across existing and new collaborations, we can now push forward with ambitious plans to grow a sector that is critical to our nation’s defence and security, and has the potential to benefit the environment, business, health and much more besides. Together, we have the skills and expertise to deliver on those ambitions, fostering new opportunities that benefit the city, region and country in the long-term.”
Plymouth and its surrounding area has a rich ecosystem of private sector businesses and world-renowned research capabilities across marine autonomy.
It is a global centre of excellence for marine science and technology, with one of the largest clusters of expertise in the world and over 7,100 skilled people in marine manufacturing. Blue tech/marine sector accounts for 21 per cent of the national employment in this field and 11.3 per cent of the city’s total employment.
Global research partners include Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Marine Biological Association, the University of Plymouth and marine autonomy companies already based in Plymouth include Thales, M Subs, Oshen, Zero USV, Sonardyne and Fugro.
In 2020 M Subs successfully sailed the first autonomous vessel across the Atlantic.
The Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS400) was the world’s first full-sized, fully autonomous, unmanned ship to cross the ocean. The revolutionary vessel set sail from Plymouth and arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts via a pit stop in Halifax in Nova Scotia.
The industry predicts a global marine autonomy market worth £103 billion by 2030, with the UK adopting a 10 per cent market share.
Key speakers at the event included Sir Chris Gardner KBE Chief Executive Officer of the Submarine Delivery Agency and the Royal Navy’s Vice Admiral Andrew Burns.
There were also representatives from Thales, Atlas Electronics as well as a themed discussion on advanced marine technology and how Plymouth will drive innovation in dual-use technology for UK Security by representatives from the University of Plymouth and PML.
Over 170 people attended the event on Friday 13 June at the Market Hall in Devonport, UK.