European Shipowners | ECSA and Sea Europe issue a joint statement calling on the Commission to include the maritime sector in the European Industrial Maritime Strategy as well as in the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan .

The two associations confirm their commitment to collaborate towards the EU climate targets and to enhance the international competitiveness of Europe’s maritime sector.

Both associations call upon the European Commission to include the maritime sector, including shipping, shipyards and equipment manufacturers, in the European Industrial Maritime Strategy as well as in the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan. Both also call upon the European Commission to issue impactful actions.

“Today, European Shipowners and European shipyards and maritime equipment manufacturers join forces and call on the Commission to include the maritime sector in the upcoming European Maritime Industrial Strategy and the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan. European shipping is a success story. Europe represents 35% of the global fleet against the EU’s 15% share of global GDP.

Both initiatives should ensure the international competitiveness of European shipping which is a prerequisite for a strong and competitive European maritime industrial cluster. Addressing the widening innovation gap in Europe is the only way to enhance the European industrial base. Financial support from the national and EU ETS revenues must enhance the uptake of clean tech and fuels” said Sotiris Raptis, Secretary General of European Shipowners | ECSA.

“Europe needs strong, innovative and globally competitive shipyards and maritime equipment manufacturers. Europe has a global leadership in complex ship types and maritime equipment manufacturing but needs to be more resilient and less dependent on foreign nations. An impactful industrial maritime strategy enabling Europe to consolidate its current global leadership, whilst regaining strategic markets for Europe and benefiting from emerging segments in crucial for Europe’s commercial and naval maritime manufacturing industry and economic security is crucial for the future of Europe” said Christophe Tytgat, Secretary General of Sea Europe.

More specifically, the joint statement recommends:

1. Reinforcing the international competitiveness, sustainability and resilience of Europe’s maritime manufacturing sector (i.e. European shipyards and maritime equipment manufacturers) through an impactful European industrial maritime strategy, as mentioned in the Mission Letter of the Commission President to the Transport Commissioner. A more competitive European maritime manufacturing sector will also benefit the whole European maritime cluster and will be key for the achievement of the EU and IMO climate targets.
2. Maintaining an internationally competitive European shipping sectorthrough an international regulatory and taxation level playing field.
3. Supporting European shipyards and European maritime equipment manufacturers through financial incentives that boost by encouraging demand through voluntary schemes, low- and zero-emission ships, retrofits, and clean technologies in Europe, and by incentivising investments to upgrade shipyards’ and maritime manufacturing processes to further enhance the efficiency of shipyards and maritime manufacturing processes.
4. Introducing binding obligations for the production and manufacturing of clean fuels in Europe in line with the Net Zero Industry Act objectives, through the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan. Certainty on clean fuels will also promote investments in Europe’s maritime manufacturing industry.
5. Facilitating access to finance – through both public funding and private financing – for maritime investments in support of the energy and digital transition. In particular, EU ETS revenues – both at European and national levels – should be better channelled to the energy transition of the maritime sector, but also to support investments in clean fuels, in boosting demand for low- and zero-emission ships and technologies in Europe, and in supporting the upgrade of the shipyard and maritime manufacturing processes. Different financing and funding tools i.a. involving banking finance, guarantees, capital markets and private investors should facilitate better risk sharing of innovative and transitional projects.