- European shipping needs €40 billion annually for decarbonization while maintaining international competitiveness.
- European shipowners propose key recommendations in a position paper for a European Maritime Industrial Strategy.
- The strategy emphasizes competitiveness, clean fuel production, innovative technologies, and reskilling the workforce for the green and digital transition.
Last week’s Draghi report underscored the importance of keeping European shipping competitive globally, and identified a need for €40 billion annually to decarbonize the industry. Shipping plays a pivotal role in Europe’s energy, food, and supply chain security, controlling 39.5% of global tonnage, reports ECSA.
European Maritime Industrial Strategy
European shipowners have released a position paper emphasizing that the European Maritime Industrial Strategy should be a cornerstone of the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal.
President von der Leyen has committed to presenting this deal within the first 100 days of the new Commission.
Maintaining International Competitiveness
The position paper calls for maintaining a level playing field between European and non-European competitors, stressing the need for a fit-for-purpose regulatory and taxation framework.
This is essential to ensure that shipping companies remain in Europe, fostering a strong maritime industrial cluster.
To achieve FuelEU targets, the paper recommends that at least 40% of clean shipping fuels be produced within Europe. This aligns with the Net-Zero Industry Act, which aims to boost Europe’s clean fuel production capacity for shipping.
European Leadership in Shipping Technologies
Europe is a global leader in innovative shipping technologies, crucial for the sector’s green and digital transition. Europe should make 40% of key technologies to maintain this leadership. This should happen under the framework of the Net-Zero Industry Act.
Ensuring access to both public and private financing is vital for unlocking the investments required for the sector’s transition. Revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) should be directed toward energy transition activities in shipping. It focuses on risk-sharing for innovative projects.
People-Centred Transition for Seafarers
The paper highlights the need for a people-centred transition. It also proposes the reskilling of 800,000 seafarers by 2030 to support the green transition. The European Commission and Member States must collaborate with social partners to prepare the workforce for future demands.
“The Draghi report firmly recognises the global leadership of European shipping and the need to maintain its international competitiveness. This is a prerequisite for the European maritime industrial cluster to thrive. The report names shipping as one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonise, requiring around 40 billion in annual investments. We strongly believe there is an opportunity to place European shipping and the whole maritime industrial cluster as a pillar of the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal. The energy transition of shipping can be the catalyst to invest in European manufacturing capacity for clean fuels and innovative technologies. We call for 40% of the clean fuels and innovative technologies we need for the green and digital transition to be manufactured in Europe, and we are ready to work with policymakers and with the maritime cluster to make this happen” said Sotiris Raptis, ECSA Secretary General.
