Green Shipping

A WestMED supported Technical Group

Implementing innovative projects to support a greener and fully sustainable maritime transport in the Mediterranean

Download the Green shipping technical group presentation (pdf-dec 2024)

vector image with project people holding jigsaw puzzle pieces

Strategic role across the Mediterranean

The western Mediterranean plays a strategic role with respect to short- and long-haul shipping routes, as it connects African and European countries, while it also provides an essential link between Atlantic routes and Asian destinations, via the eastern Mediterranean and including through the Black Sea.

An effective support to green shipping should acknowledge the relevance of transforming, renewing and adapting regional vessels and their transitioning towards the use of fully sustainable sources of fuel/energy, but should also address the potentials of transforming green ports into “circular hubs” for sustainable energy production and consumption – both challenges but also opportunities.

Importance of monitoring and financial support

Given the fast development of new technologies and sources to be used for green shipping, a careful monitoring of new developments (green fuel such as methanol, ammoniac, hydrogen and alternative technologies, including electrification), would allow for the continuous monitoring of most advanced practices (technological, infrastructural, managerial, etc.).

The achievement of such vision would require significant amount of financial investments and contributions, which in turn calls for addressing the current fragmentation of public financing streams (national, EU, regional and international), as well as the full visibility for the return potentials for private sustainable investments in regional green shipping.

Key Priorities

Assessing the emerging technologies and innovative models
An analysis of trends in energy consumption, the opportunities for strategic development of the infrastructure to boost renewable energy sources for green shipping across the region, is essential to ground future actions.

To set a proper basis for further regional action, such analysis focuses on the western Mediterranean region as a whole, not just as a sum of individual country assessment.
Networking of Maritime Ports as Energy Communities
This action provides an opportunity for green ports in the western Mediterranean to experiment with the recent concepts of ‘energy community’ as put forward by the EU Green Deal. Ports can in fact play a pivotal role in the world’s decarbonisation challenge and provide a blueprint for industries and governments to transition to a cleaner energy future.
Boosting adaptation of commercial vessels
This action calls for the transformation, adaptation and uptake of innovative and sustainable devices for commercial vessels.

It aims at testing the potentials for adaptation of commercial vessels (including smaller ones, local ferries and service vessels) in accelerating their transition to sustainable energy – from LNG towards a wider choice of alternative fuels and technologies, including hydrogen, electrification, etc.

What has been achieved so far

Identified priorities on which the ten countries decide to work, agree on the suitable tools and become able to play their role in this common action
Raised awareness with EC (DG MARE/ CINEA) on these priorities until obtaining an EMFAF call reflecting this
Established a community of stakeholders, interested to form partnerships and submit joint project proposals for this call (three proposals from this group).
Some countries also established local working groups to provide contents for this Technical Group and subsequently for the EC (DG MARE/ CINEA)
Developed the dialogue with competent multilateral institutions and stakeholders’ platforms, to be further exploited over next two years.

Plans for the upcoming period

Further exploit the three original priorities
Finalize partnership agreements with competent multilateral institutions and stakeholders’ platforms, as a way to join forces towards common goals;
Adopt the concept of “connectivity”, especially in the perspective of clustering the stakeholders along the same maritime routes (Suez-Gibraltar, extended corridors to non-EU Mediterranean countries)
Collect the inputs coming from the countries and their relevant stakeholders, after the survey shared together with the minutes of the latest meeting, to define new/ additional priorities
Welcome those stakeholders and organizations from other countries of the Mediterranean basin, Black Sea and Atlantic

Interesting report for the WestMED Shipping Community

We are pleased to announce the publication of the 2025 edition of the SRM report on the Italian Maritime Economy. The report also includes a contribution from the Spanish CETMO Institute, whose synergy arises within the WestMED Technical Group on Green Shipping and Alternative Fuels, of which both Study Centers are assiduous and active stakeholders

Visit the SRM website to watch the recording of the launching event of this publication in Naples on July 4, 2025 and download the slides used, containing some of the main findings

The Italian Maritime Economy Report 2025 addresses a matter of significant current relevance: the introduction of tariffs by the United States and their impact on international maritime trade and strategic container routes.

The first part of the volume analyzes the subject from both geopolitical and operational perspectives. Particular attention is given to the relationships with Italian ports, which handle significant volumes of goods to and from the U.S. The report also explores the risks associated with raw materials and examines the links between port infrastructure and the energy sector.

The second part of the Report features internationally oriented essays curated by members of the Global Shipping Think Tank Alliance – a prestigious forum of research centers of which SRM is a member – bringing together scholars from around the world with expertise in ports, shipping, and logistics. This section includes contributions from researchers based in China, Egypt, Germany, and Spain. The focus is on sustainability, now a key strategic driver for the development of maritime transport.

The third part is entirely dedicated to the complex topic of sea-rail intermodal transport. The essays provide an overview of the current state of freight rail transport in Italy and present three case studies focused on the ports of Genoa, Trieste, and La Spezia – three national centers of excellence known for handling significant volumes of cargo through this transport mode.

How to obtain your free copy
You can order the report for free by visiting the SRM website (available in Italian and English). Note: you need to register first

Contact the National Hub Italy for information on the Green Shipping Technical Group

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