European Shipowners have expressed firm support for the European Commission’s Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP), calling it an important first step toward advancing clean fuel use in shipping. The association, however, emphasized that rapid and concrete follow-up actions will be essential for the plan to deliver real progress.
According to the source, STIP sets out an investment framework to boost the production and availability of clean fuels across all transport modes, with a particular focus on maritime transport. The European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) said the plan acknowledges major policy and funding gaps in Europe’s clean fuel strategy and highlighted that the pace of implementation will determine its success.
Sotiris Raptis, Secretary General of ECSA, underlined that Europe’s climate targets cannot be achieved without accessible and affordable clean fuels. “We’ve got ambitious climate targets but not the clean fuels we need for the energy transition,” Raptis said. “STIP is putting investments in clean fuels at the centre of the competitiveness agenda. These investments are necessary for retaining industrial capacity, for enhancing competitiveness, for reducing energy dependencies, and for getting to net zero.”
The plan proposes using national revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) to help fund the uptake of clean fuels in shipping. The industry contributes around EUR 9 billion each year to the ETS, and shipowners believe this revenue should be directed toward closing the cost gap between clean and conventional fuels. Clean fuels are currently about four times more expensive than traditional marine fuels, which remains a significant barrier to adoption.
“STIP takes a major first step towards the use of the national ETS revenues to make clean fuels for shipping available at a competitive price,” Raptis said. “The use of the ETS revenues should also be matched by a binding mandate on European suppliers to make clean fuels available for shipping.”
ECSA also welcomed the plan’s focus on reducing administrative burdens, particularly for small and medium-sized shipping companies. The association further called on the European Union to align its climate measures with forthcoming international rules adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
“Ensuring an international level playing field is essential for the competitiveness of European shipping,” Raptis said. “We expect a clear message from the Commission that the EU will fully align its policy framework with international measures when adopted at the IMO level.”
ECSA concluded that while the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan marks a positive start, only rapid implementation and precise financial support mechanisms will enable Europe to meet its maritime decarbonisation targets.
