Maritime organisations call on EU to include shipping in electrification plan
Transport & Environment (T&E) and a group of European maritime organisations and companies have urged the EU to make shipping and ports a central part of its upcoming Electrification Action Plan.
IMAGE: Onshore power supply station in Klaipėda. Port of Klaipėda
The Europan Commission is expected to publish the electrification plan on 15 July. The plan aims to accelerate electrification across Europe, cut fossil fuel imports, reduce air pollution and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
The signatories call for electrification of ports, terminals and vessels to be included in the plan.
They urge the EU to recognise ports as key energy system hubs and give them priority access to electricity grids.
They also recommend that the plan should streamline permit granting procedures to speed up shoreside electricity systems.
The plan should create incentives for electrification of European vessels, like introducing shipping electrification targets and using green criteria in public procurement rules, they argue.
The organisations want support to develop the marine battery industry, public and private investments in maritime electrification and measures to address the fiscal imbalance between electricity and untaxed fossil fuels.
Apart from T&E, the letter was signed by the non-profits Seas at Risk and NABU, and the trade organisations Danish Shipping and Maritime CleanTech among others.
By Nachiket Tekawade
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