Europe's maritime sector needs to do more to meet EU environment goals

Some progress has been made by the sector in its environmental performance, but reducing emissions remains a challenge, said the report released by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Activities like shipping of cargo, containers, commercial fishing, tankers and cruise ships, as well as port activities, remain significant contributors to a wide range of environmental challenges, with the whole sector accounting for 3-4 per cent of the EU’s overall carbon dioxide emissions, a share that needs to decrease.

Meanwhile, methane emissions have at least doubled between 2018 and 2023, accounting for 26 per cent of the sector’s total methane emissions in 2022. This is largely attributed to the increased use of liquefied natural gas. Apart from GHG emissions, reducing air pollutants like sulphur and nitrogen oxides continues to be an issue, the report said.

The use of alternative fuels and sources of power has increased, although from a low base, the report reveals.

However, as it currently stands, some prospective alternative fuels will need to significantly increase production to be able to meet potential demand. In addition, harmonised international guidelines will have to be developed and a supply of seafarers trained on new decarbonisation technologies, the report notes.

Sulphur oxide emissions in the EU have dropped by about 70 per cent since 2014, largely due to the introduction of sulphur emission control areas (SECAs) in Northern Europe. The Mediterranean SECA, set to take effect on May 1, 2025, is expected to contribute further reductions together with the one upcoming in North-East Atlantic Ocean controlling both sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide.

Meanwhile, nitrogen oxides emissions rose by an average of 10 per cent between 2015 and 2023, making up 39 per cent of transport-related such emissions in 2022.

Discharge of grey water, driven largely by cruise ship operations, increased by 40 per cent between 2014 and 2023.

New pan-European models reveal high underwater radiated noise (URN) levels in the English Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, Adriatic Sea, Dardanelles Strait, and Baltic Sea regions. Mitigation measures could reduce URN by up to 70 per cent between 2030 and 2050.

Marine litter from fisheries and shipping has halved over the past decade. However, challenges persist, particularly with plastic pellet pollution from lost containers, the report notes.

Approximately 27 per cent of Europe’s near-shore seabed (5 per cent facing severe effects) is affected by maritime transport-linked activities like port expansions, dredging and anchoring which lead to physical disturbances and habitat loss.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)