Maritime transport

More sustainable maritime transport

Maritime transport is responsible for around 13% of transport greenhouse gas emissions. The European Union has adopted a number of initiatives to reduce emissions from the European maritime transport sector while keeping it competitive.

FuelEU maritime: decarbonised fuels

The FuelEU maritime initiative, part of the Fit for 55 package, will advance the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport.

The goal is to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of the energy used on board ships by up to 80% by 2050, by promoting the use of more sustainable fuels by ships using EU ports while ensuring the smooth flow of maritime traffic and avoiding distortions in the internal market.

The new rules were adopted by the Council in July 2023.

The infographic presents the goals and benefits of the proposed ReFuelEU aviation and FuelEU maritime regulations which aim to increase the uptake of more sustainable fuels in the two transport sectors.

Fit for 55: increasing the uptake of greener fuels in the aviation and maritime sectors (infographic)

Global approach to maritime emissions

The EU also works within the context of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships. A revised IMO strategy for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions was adopted in July 2023, with the ambition to reach net-zero emissions by around 2050. Measures to implement the revised IMO strategy are under discussion.

The presidency of the Council and EU member states attend the meetings of IMO and contribute actively to the development of environmental and other measures. All EU member states are members of the organisation.

International Maritime Organisation - IMO

Maritime transport safety

To support clean, safer and modern shipping in the EU, the EU has proposed a set of five pieces of legislation, known collectively as the maritime safety package. The package includes measures on:

port state control
ship-source pollution
compliance with flag state requirements
accident investigations
revising the mandate of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)

The goal is to modernise the EU's rules on maritime safety and reduce water pollution from ships while safeguarding the competitiveness of the European shipping sector.

In November 2024, the Council adopted four parts of the package.