A new investigation into ferry emissions across Europe has highlighted the significant impact maritime pollution continues to have on major cities, and points to port electrification as a key part of the solution.

Research by clean transport advocacy group Transport & Environment found that ferries in several European capitals emit more sulphur pollution than cars. In cities including Dublin, Helsinki, Stockholm and Tallinn, ferries and passenger vessels operate close to city centres and often spend long periods at berth with auxiliary engines running, producing emissions directly where people live and work.

“Ferries can spend hours at berth with engines running, and those emissions are released right in the middle of our cities,” says  Philippos Ioulianou,Managing Director of EmissionLink. “If we want ships to switch off their engines in port, they need somewhere to plug in.”

Shipping is now included in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), with most ferries required to pay for their emissions. Industry stakeholders increasingly argue that these revenues should be reinvested into maritime decarbonisation, particularly port infrastructure and shore power.

“Shipowners may invest millions to retrofit vessels for shore power, but those investments only make sense if ports have reliable and affordable electricity available,” says Mr Ioulianou. “If shore power is significantly more expensive than running onboard engines, operators will simply continue using fuel and pay the penalty.”

Reinvesting ETS revenues into port electrification, grid upgrades and renewable energy could help close the cost gap and accelerate adoption. This is particularly important for ferries, which often remain in service for 40 years or more, making retrofitting existing vessels essential.

“Ports must become the charging network of the maritime energy transition,” Mr  Ioulianou adds. “With the right infrastructure, affordable electricity and targeted incentives, shipping can decarbonise much faster.”

Whilst the research findings on ferry pollution highlight how visible shipping emissions can be in urban environments it also points to a practical solution. If policymakers want ships to switch off their engines in port, they must first ensure they have somewhere to plug in, available and affordable.