In May Waterborne Technology Platform issued a press release on re-energizing waterborne transportation. The Waterborne Technology Platform is dedicated to finding solution enabling zero-emission waterborne transportation while also acknowledging the need for a diverse portfolio of sustainable alternative fuels.

The European Commission has released the REPower EU Plan, which aims to reduce Europe’s reliance on Russian fossil fuels and accelerate the green transition. The transportation industry is critical to meeting the European Green Deal’s objectives. The Waterborne Technology Platform is focused on developing and demonstrating zero-emission waterborne transport solutions for all major ship types and services by 2030, including through the Co-Programmed Partnership on Zero-Emission Waterborne Transport under Horizon Europe.

Albeit the REPower EU Plan is critical in assisting the transition to a net-zero-emission society, it fails to recognize the unique demands of the waterborne transportation sector in order to meet this goal in a timely manner. Increased energy efficiency, electrification, and the use of sustainable alternative fuels will be crucial, as the plan accurately states. In order for a vessel to exploit these new energy sources, the vessel’s power trains and fuel storage must be designed accordingly.

“Making the shift to zero-emission waterborne transportation as soon as possible is critical for our environment and future generations.” However, given the necessity to adapt and rebuild the present fleet in order to attain zero-emission waterborne transportation, Mr. Eero Lehtovaara, Chairman of the Waterborne Technology Platform, noted that developing and demonstrating solutions for the use of diverse sustainable alternative fuels is critical. Mr. Lehtovaara continued, “As an industry-wide technological platform, we have a critical role to play in creating and proving solutions for zero-emission waterborne transportation — in order to guarantee the shift happens quickly enough.”

Read a full press release – HERE