The European Commission is expected to publish a maritime manufacturing industrial strategy on 18 February, a leaked draft of which underscores the need for "mechanisms" to earmark national emission revenues for maritime decarbonisation.
Beyond funds from a projected €10bn/yr by 2030 in national revenues raised from shipping emissions under the EU emissions trading system (ETS), the commission will make available 20mn ETS allowances assigned to the bloc's innovation fund for demonstration and pre-deployment — worth approximately €1.6bn — earmarked to support maritime emissions reductions until 2030. Future innovation fund calls for proposals could focus on production and uptake of renewable and low-carbon fuels.
The draft, which is expected to change before final publication, said a commission-led task-force will explore additional technical support and "match-making" tools to connect ports, shipping companies, shipyards, equipment manufacturers and fuel producers.
The commission will also leverage public and private funding towards "made in EU" vessels, technologies and equipment, boosting construction of next-generation low and zero-carbon vessels. It promises a "robust" policy framework for nuclear power propulsion in commercial shipping and commits to mobilising €800mn for shipbuilding, retrofitting, shipping and blue tech by 2028. The draft further calls for boosting wind-assisted propulsion using the EU's sustainable finance taxonomy.
The upcoming revision of EU public procurement law will introduce targeted non-price requirements, including sustainability, circularity and made in EU criteria. Export credits will also include specific provisions for zero and low-emission ships.
The commission plans to allocate €160mn to finance a Zero Emission Waterborne Transport programme until 2027, with an additional €8mn allocated to fuel cells.
Officials will "streamline" existing monitoring, reporting and verification requirements under the EU ETS and the FuelEU Maritime regulation, which sets greenhouse gas intensity cuts for marine fuels used in ships over 5,000 gross tonnage, starting at 2pc in 2025 and reaching 80pc by 2050, against a 2020 baseline.
