10160457Polar Shipping - GHG, Carbon and ConservationClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKThe polar regions are uniquely sensitive environments, with specific ecological and conservation needs. Shipping in these regions is increasing, in particular in the Arctic as climate change opens up new shipping lanes and populations increase with new industrial activities in the region. British Antarctic Survey is a leading scientific research organisation with sixty years' experience operating in both polar regions, and with very significant scientific programmes underway with collaborators around the world. It has developed a unique navigational software for operating in polar regions -- PolarRoute -- which provides optimised route planning for ships. This can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve efficiency in these very dynamic operating environments, where weather and sea ice conditions change rapidly. In addition, PolarRoute uniquely integrates ecological data into route planning, to route ships away from sensitive areas, such as migration routes. BAS is working with innovation specialists Puntios to launch the technology. This project aims to demonstrate the technology in live application on vessels operating in the regions, and by modelling optimised routes can demonstrate the potential to reduce operating costs, emissions and harm to the ecosystems. The project will enable the launch of the technology, and provide new data to the shipping industry and its regulators on the potential to reduce harm in polar regions.