Interferry, the global trade association representing the ferry industry, has welcomed the European Commission’s proposed revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The association says the proposal has significant potential to accelerate maritime decarbonization, provided the final text secures accessible onshore power infrastructure and reliable grid connections through Member State obligations and more robust funding mechanisms. 

Interferry strongly supports the proposal’s alignment with the sector’s strategy to decarbonize through financially sustainable electrification of ports and vessels. However, expanding hybrid and battery-electric ferry operations depends on EU passenger ports fulfilling their legal obligations to provide onshore power supply (OPS). Member States must also ensure that local grids can deliver enough electricity for ports to charge hybrid and fully electric vessels without disrupting regional energy supplies.

To support this transition, Interferry is calling on lawmakers to ring-fence 100% of maritime ETS revenues for maritime decarbonization, including support for EU-produced sustainable marine fuels, clean technologies, and onshore charging infrastructure.

While Interferry welcomes the proposed Sustainable Maritime Alternative Propulsion (SMAP) mechanism, it sees significant risk that demand will exceed the available funding:  the estimated EUR 1 billion annually must support the entire maritime sector, including ferry shipping. Member States should therefore supplement SMAP funding with targeted national support.

Finally, the revision must establish a clear, predictable pathway for zero-emission operators to access SMAP funding in advance. Although operators of fully electric ferries surrender no allowances, they face substantial upfront capital costs.

“Ferry operators have led the way in electrification, but inadequate shore power and grid capacity limit the battery capacity they can put to use and, in turn, the distances they can cover. Larger batteries and longer crossings are technically feasible, and several large ro-pax ferries are already battery-ready. We are fulfilling our commitment, but ferry operators cannot resolve grid connection and other landside infrastructure issues on their own. Ports and Member States have a vital role to play, and the Commission’s proposal to revise the maritime EU ETS offers tools to help fund the necessary investment,” said Johan Roos, Director of Regulatory Affairs at Interferry.

Interferry is the global ferry trade association with consultative status at the International Maritime Organization and similar influence at the European Union as well as many other maritime governance authorities. With membership exceeding 280 companies and representing plus 2,200 individuals in more than 40 countries, its primary purposes are to represent the ferry industry on regulatory and policy matters including safety and sustainability; to speak on behalf of the worldwide ferry sector which provides transport for over four billion passengers and 370 million vehicles annually; and to facilitate networking and communications among its members.