Interferry, the international association representing ferry operators, has shown its support for the new maritime and port industrial strategy presented by the European Commission on March 4, 2026. The organization considers that the community plan recognizes the strategic value of the ferry sector within the European transport system and addresses one of its main claims: that the revenues obtained from the application of the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) should be reinvested in maritime decarbonization.
The ferry trade association interprets that this approach responds to a long-standing demand from the sector, in a context where the energy transition of the European fleet requires a very high volume of financing. According to the community strategy itself, the annual investment needs to advance in maritime transport decarbonization range between 2.4 billion and 8.5 billion euros.
Based on this estimation, Interferry deems it relevant for the European Commission to propose allocating a significant part of the nearly 10 billion euros raised annually through the ETS to the deployment of clean technologies. Among the measures included in the strategy, the association cites the proposal to create a specific European Union mechanism to facilitate ETS rights linked to the use of sustainable fuels and clean propulsion systems for shipping companies.
The organization also notes that the strategy presented by Brussels aligns with recent analyses by environmental groups regarding the electrification potential of ferries. In this regard, Interferry positions the electrification of ports and the supply of electricity on land to docked ships as one of the most immediate options for reducing emissions in the short term.
In the association's view, equipping ports with infrastructures to supply electricity from land significantly reduces emissions in port cities and, at the same time, lowers the risks for investments that operators face when opting for battery-electric ships. This combination of port infrastructures and technological renewal of the fleet appears, in their approach, as a direct application path compared to other alternatives that require longer maturation periods.
The Director of Institutional Affairs at Interferry, Johan Roos, has pointed out that the European Commission "is moving in the right direction" by suggesting that ETS funds be used in the same realm where they are generated, namely in the decarbonization of maritime transport. However, he has also warned that these resources should be directed towards the entire industry and existing fleet, and not be limited to high-visibility specific projects with a more restricted reach on the sector as a whole.
Roos argues that the ferry decarbonization process requires practical and broadly applicable measures. In this framework, he has identified as priorities the supply of electricity from land, electrification, and access to alternative fuels. Interferry's position thus points to a distribution of funds that facilitates actions with immediate operational impact, especially on regular lines and services with strong territorial ties.
In addition to the economic and technological chapter, the association has positively evaluated that the community strategy includes a commitment to reduce administrative burdens for companies in the sector. Interferry understands that this aspect can relieve some of the regulatory pressure that shipping companies face in the current process of adapting to European climate and energy standards.
Alongside this, the entity considers it relevant for the Commission to recognize the need to revise European legislation when the International Maritime Organization (IMO) establishes a global measure for the decarbonization of maritime transport. For Interferry, this point is particularly important to avoid double payments or regulatory overlaps between the community framework and a future international system.
The only reservation expressed by the organization regarding the new European strategy pertains to the section dedicated to shipbuilding. Interferry acknowledges that the Commission has paid attention to the European shipbuilding industry but warns that the measures articulated in this area must support the market without disrupting its functioning. In their evaluation, any initiative favoring European shipbuilding must consider both competition and the immediate infrastructural and service needs at terminals.
With this position, Interferry makes it clear that it shares the general orientation of the community strategy, especially concerning the use of ETS revenues, port electrification, and regulatory adaptation. At the same time, it demands that the practical application of these measures take into account the operational reality of ferry operators, the current fleet composition, and the need to accelerate actions that can translate into emission reductions in the short and medium term.
The association has also expressed its willingness to collaborate with the European Commission to identify and eliminate operational obstacles that currently hinder an efficient transition of the sector towards lower environmental impact models. According to its approach, this collaboration should aim to solve specific problems affecting the daily operations of the ferry and the implementation of new technologies in ports and ships.