The Sustainable and Smart Mobility Plan, as explained, lays the groundwork for how the EU transport system will change itself in a green and digital way and become more resilient to future crises.

As outlined in the European Green Deal, emissions will be cut by 90 percent by 2050, delivered through a smart, competitive, safe, open and affordable transport system.

“To reach our climate targets, emissions from the transport sector must get on a clear downward trend. Today’s strategy will shift the way people and goods move across Europe and make it easy to combine different modes of transport in a single journey. We’ve set ambitious targets for the entire transport system to ensure a sustainable, smart, and resilient return from the COVID-19 crisis," stated Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal.

By 2030, zero-emission ocean-going ships will become market-ready. This is one of the concrete milestones for the European transport system's smart and sustainable future.

To achieve this the EU has announced that it needs to improve, without further delay, the use of sustainable and low-carbon fuels for water-borne transport.

Due to the current lack of ready-to-market zero-emission technologies, the long production and life cycles of vessels, the needed major investments in refuelling equipment and infrastructure, and international competition in the sector, waterborne transport is facing greater decarbonisation challenges in the coming decades.

Since 1990, EU international navigation and aviation emissions have increased by more than 50 percent.

Action is desperately needed in these industries, including when they are emerging from the current crisis. Priority access to additional renewable and low-carbon liquid and gaseous fuels must be provided to these modes, as there is a short-term shortage of appropriate alternative powertrains.

It is expected that the FuelEU Maritime initiative will improve the production and uptake of sustainable maritime fuels and resolve this issue.

Maritime Business World