The maritime sector accounts for 3% of the EU’s total CO2 emissions, amounting to 145.2 million tonnes of CO2 in 2024. Under current policies, maritime emissions could represent one-third of all transport emissions in 2050. Between 5-7% of these emissions – or 6.5 million tonnes of CO2 – happen in ports, degrading air quality, worsening climate change and impacting port residents and workers’ health. In 2023, European ferries emitted 6848 tonnes of SOx, 64,486 tonnes of NOx and 2367 tonnes of PM2.5 in ports, while in 2022 Europe’s 218 cruise ships emitted as much sulphur oxides (SOx) as 1 billion cars.
The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation is essential to reduce these emissions. It requires that ports provide shoreside electricity to specific vessels by 2030, and that sufficient alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure is available across European waters. However, both mandates fall short of enabling a complete decarbonisation, as the electrification mandate only targets a portion of all ships, and the fuel mandate only mentions (fossil) gas infrastructure.
T&E welcomes the Commission’s call for evidence and its commitment to accelerate the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, including electrification, for shipping. The current review is therefore an opportunity to send a clear regulatory signal, in line with the Port Strategy and Europe’s climate objectives, that ports will be key green energy hubs. A more comprehensive and ambitious regulation is needed to systematically cut down in-port emissions, improve air quality in EU ports, and protect local communities’ health. Beyond the immediate climate and health benefits, it will support the development of electrification and clean fuels technologies, improve seafarers working conditions, and strengthen Europe’s energy security in an increasingly unstable world.
