This video showcases how the European Commission is propelling the blue economy forward through targeted Sea Basin Strategies in the Atlantic, Black Sea, and Western Mediterranean.
Witness how these strategies foster innovation, competitiveness, and inclusivity within the sector, supported by essential enablers like blue skills and sustainable investments.
This workshop that took place on May 30, 2024 during the European Maritime Day in Svendborg Denmark, was aimed at exploring how the EU Sea Basins Assistance Mechanism can further enhance effective cooperation with strategic blue economy initiatives promoted by the EU in the ‘cross-cutting’ areas of research and innovation, ocean literacy and green energy transition.
Moderation was done by Matteo Bocci, from the Sea Basins Assistance Mechanism and contributions were made by:
The workshop allowed the different initiatives to share the main activities and results achieved so far in their areas of intervention, and then look ahead to identify concrete actions for further cooperation– also by building upon the results of the High-Level Panel 1 held on the same day.
Key Highlights and Outcomes of the workshop:
As concrete outcomes of this workshop, the different initiatives involved agreed to establish concrete roadmaps for cooperation in the year ahead, particularly in the area of Ocean literacy and blue skills, which emerged as a cross-cutting topic of interest to all the initiatives involved.
In conclusion, the workshop highlighted the vital role of collaborative efforts in advancing the EU’s blue economy initiatives, particularly through focused areas such as ocean literacy and blue skills development. As a key result, the different initiatives committed to continue working together to further operationalise future joint actions.
El pasado 17 de Abril de 2024 se celebró de 10.00 a 14.00 horas en Mahón el evento ‘Prototipos para la descarbonización de Puertos, Buques pesqueros y Recreativos. ’ (ver agenda)
Este evento Nacional que el Mecanismo de Asistencia de la Iniciativa WestMED ha organizado en España a través de su brazo ejecutor en el país y en colaboración con el Clúster Marítimo y Logístico de las Illes Balears.
El evento, que se celebró en la Sala Claustre del Carme en la ciudad de Mahón, contó con una destacadísima participación de expertos nacionales e internacionales en ámbitos de la descarbonización de puertos, buques pesqueros y buques recreativos.
El workshop participativo congregó a un total de 46 personas, representantes de puertos, organismos y sector pesquero, clústeres, GALPs, asociaciones, sector recreativo marino, puertos deportivos, puertos pesqueros, proveedores tecnológicos, desarrolladores de infraestructuras portuarias, investigadores, sector energético, astilleros, y otras empresas e instituciones (ver listado de asistentes) dedicadas a los sectores de puertos, pesca y náutica de recreo.
La jornada se dirigió a todos los actores mediterráneos y/o atlánticos de habla hispana de los sectores de puertos, pesca y náutica de recreo, pero también a representantes de la Administración nacional y regional. El evento fue además seleccionado por la Comisión Europea como un evento ‘EMD in My Country’, dentro de los eventos en torno al Día Marítimo Europeo de 2024.
Contexto
Al igual que con otras actividades económicas en la UE, existe una necesidad creciente de que nuestras flotas marítimas hagan la transición y se alejen lo antes posible de los combustibles fósiles. Esto no es solo una contribución a los objetivos del Pacto Verde Europeo, incluida la reducción de las emisiones de GEI, sino también a la rentabilidad, la sostenibilidad y la resiliencia del sector (Comisión de la UE, 2023). Los retos a los que se enfrentan las flotas para acometer una transición energética van desde los regulatorios hasta los tecnológicos.
El presente workshop participativo tuvo como objetivo debatir sobre los retos que la descarbonización plantea para los puertos y embarcaciones recreativas y pesqueras. El workshop participativo aportó la perspectiva de los participantes sobre las embarcaciones de pesca, embarcaciones de la industria de la náutica de recreo, así como de sus puertos e instalaciones (pesqueros y recreativos).
Los participantes debatieron en 3 mesas de trabajo sobre posibles prototipos, fuentes de energía, soluciones tecnológicas, marcos regulatorios y oportunidades y desafíos generales para avanzar hacia los esfuerzos de descarbonización. Se utilizó el método de “design thinking”.
Preparar el escenario
Varios destacados expertos y responsables políticos prepararon el escenario, esbozando el contexto y compartiendo los últimos avances.
En la inauguración de la jornada, el Sr. Héctor Pons Riudavets, alcalde de Mahon, comentó: “necesitamos prototipos y tecnologías público-privadas adaptadas a la realidad actual para alcanzar nuestros objetivos de descarbonización”.
A continuación, el Sr. Antonio Ginard López, director general de la Autoridad Portuaria de las Islas Baleares, destacó que las islas Baleares ya están abordando el reto de descarbonizar sus puertos con varias actividades y ejes de trabajo.
La Sra Iolanda Piedra, presidenta del Cluster Marítimo Marítimo y Logístico de las Illes Balears, destacó que España quiere y tiene que ser un referente europeo y global en la descarbonización marina.
El Sr. Omar Collado, coordinador nacional de la Iniciativa WestMED por parte del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, indicó que: “Todos los sectores marítimos necesitan colaborar para lograr una Economía Azul sostenible. Necesitamos proyectos y tecnologías concretas, realistas y realmente sostenibles para avanzar hacia la transición energética que necesita la UE”. Para finalizar, el Sr. Francisco Manuel Fernández, del Ministerio de Agricultura Pesca y Alimentación, destacó que las ideas que se desarrollarán a través del workshop participativo son esenciales para avanzar en la descarbonización del sector pesquero. Hizo hincapié en que la mayoría de las pesquerías del Mediterráneo en España son flotas artesanales y que proporcionar soluciones de descarbonización a estas flotas es un reto que tenemos que abordar.
Mesas redondas
Tras una pausa para el café, a las 11.30, comenzó el workshop participativo en 3 mesas de trabajo con el objetivo de intercambiar ideas, prácticas y experiencias entre los/las participantes:
MESA 1: Prototipos de descarbonización en puertos pesqueros y recreativos
MESA 2: Prototipos de descarbonización de buques pesqueros
MESA 3: Prototipos de descarbonización de buques recreativos
En todas las mesas se abordaron los siguientes pasos:
Resultados
Un breve resumen:
Mesa 1: Propuestas para que los puertos se conviertan en generadores de energía
Se seleccionaron tres propuestas: una plataforma móvil que permite generar energía (ecocubierta), un parque de turbinas que aprovecha la fuerza de las olas para generar electricidad y un proyecto para generar hidrógeno verde en los puertos basado en el ejemplo del puerto de Vigo.
Mesa 2: Proyectos para la descarbonización del sector pesquero
Se propusieron prototipos para la digitalización y el análisis de las necesidades energéticas de cada tipo de arte de pesca (plataforma de datos). También se propuso un proyecto para probar una solución híbrida (eléctrica y diésel) en un buque de 10 metros.
Mesa 3: Nuevos modelos de buques impulsados con energías verdes
Se seleccionaron distintos proyectos, como la adaptación de catamaranes a un modelo híbrido (biodiésel y electricidad), el desarrollo de una aplicación para controlar la autonomía de los barcos, la electrificación de buques de pasaje o la construcción de un barco propulsado por biodiésel e hidrógeno.
A continuación, cada mesa compartió y debatió sus conclusiones con el grupo completo de participantes.
La jornada concluyó con un resumen de los puntos más importantes y un esbozo de los próximos pasos.
Próximos pasos
Los resultados de prototipos por Mesas de Trabajo se recopilaron en un documento titulado “National Event from WestMED Initiative in Spain: Prototypes for the decarbonization of Ports, Fishing and Recreational Vessels” el cual se entregará al EU Energy Transition Partnership y podrá ser solicitarlo, por quien lo desee, a través del Hub Nacional Spain mediante el envío de un correo electrónico.
Este documento puede solicitarse gratuitamente poniéndose en contacto con el WestMED National Hub España.
Cobertura de prensa
Este acto fue ampliamente cubierto por la prensa: en televisión (IB3/ Noticies) y en medios de comunicación en línea.
Prensa en línea
Pressreader Spain
Menorca.info
Xunta de Galicia 1 | Xunta de Galicia 2
Galicia Press
CostaOeste
NoticiasVigo
Govclipping
La Voz de Galicia
Cluster Marítimo Español
Haga clic aquí para el español
On April 17, 2024, the workshop ‘Prototypes for the decarbonization of Ports, Fishing and Recreational Vessels‘ took place in Mahon, Menorca (see agenda).
This Spanish National Event was organized by the Spanish National Hub of the WestMED Initiative Assistance Mechanism of the in collaboration with the Maritime and Logistics Cluster of the Balearic Islands. It was attended by 46 national and international experts on the decarbonization of ports, fishing vessels and recreational vessels.
The event targeted all Spanish-speaking Mediterranean and/or Atlantic stakeholders in the port, fishing and yachting sectors, as well as representatives from national and regional administrations. People came from a wide range of organisations including clusters, GALPs, associations, marine recreation, marinas, fishing ports, technology providers, port infrastructure developers, researchers, energy sector, shipyards (see list of attendees).
This workshop was selected by the European Commission as an official ‘EMD in My Country‘ event, as part of a larger EU-wide campaign consisting of many other events across the Union, designed to raise awareness about the importance of the oceans and seas.
Background
As with other economic activities in the EU, there is a growing need for our maritime fleets to transition and move away from fossil fuels as soon as possible. This is not only a contribution to the objectives of the European Green Deal, including the reduction of GHG emissions, but also to the profitability, sustainability and resilience of the sector (EU Commission, 2023). The challenges faced by fleets in undertaking an energy transition range from regulatory to technological.
The objective of this workshop was to discuss the challenges that decarbonization poses for recreational and fishing ports and vessels. It provided an opportunity to harnass the participants’ perspectives on fishing vessels and recreational vessels as well as their ports and facilities focused on this challenge.
By using the principles of ‘design thinking,’ participants identified and discussed possible prototypes, energy sources, technological solutions, regulatory frameworks, general opportunities and challenges to move towards decarbonization.
Setting the stage
The stage was set by several leading experts and policy makers, outlining the context and sharing the latest developments.
Mr. Héctor Pons Riudavets, Mayor of Mahon, opened the event and stated that “we need prototypes and public-private technologies adapted to the current reality to achieve our decarbonization goals”. Next, Mr. Antonio Ginard Lopez, Director General of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands, highlighted that the Balearic Islands are already addressing the challenge of decarbonizing their ports with several activities and work axes.
Ms. Iolanda Piedra, president of the Maritime Maritime and Logistics Cluster of the Balearic Islands, stressed that Spain wants and needs to be a European and global reference in marine decarbonization.
Mr. Omar Collado, national coordinator of the WestMED Initiative on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, indicated: “All maritime sectors need to collaborate to achieve a sustainable Blue Economy. We need concrete, realistic and truly sustainable projects and technologies to move towards the energy transition that the EU needs”.
Mr. Francisco Manuel Fernández, from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, stressed that the ideas that will be developed through the participatory workshop are essential to advance the decarbonization of the fisheries sector. He emphasized that most Mediterranean fisheries in Spain are artisanal fleets and that providing decarbonization solutions to these fleets is a challenge we need to address.
Roundtables
After a short break, participants were split and divided over three thematic roundtables according to predifined preferences.
TABLE 1: Decarbonization prototypes for fishing and recreational ports
TABLE 2: Decarbonization prototypes for fishing vessels
TABLE 3: Decarbonization Prototypesfor recreational vessels
Each table was then asked to:
1: Identify of challenges/barriers/strengths
2: Prioritise the top 3 challenges
3: Identify a roadmap for these 3 prioritized challenges
Results
A brief summary:
Table 1: Proposals for ports to become energy generators
Three proposals were selected: a mobile platform that allows energy generation (eco-deck), a turbine farm that harnesses the power of waves to generate electricity and a project to generate green hydrogen in ports based on the example of the port of Vigo.
Table 2: Projects for the decarbonization of the fishing vessels
Prototypes were proposed for the digitalization and analysis of the energy needs of each type of fishing gear (data platform). A project for testing a hybrid solution (electric and diesel) on a 10-meter vessel was also proposed.
Table 3: New models of green energy powered vessels
Different projects were selected, such as the adaptation of catamarans to a hybrid model (biodiesel and electricity), the development of an application to monitor the autonomy of ships, the electrification of passenger ships or the construction of a ship powered by biodiesel and hydrogen.
Each table then shared and discussed their findings with the full group of participants.
The day was concluded by summarising key take-home points and outlining next steps.
Next Steps
The full results will be compiled in a document entitled “National Event from WestMED Initiative in Spain: Prototypes for the decarbonization of Ports, Fishing and Recreational Vessels” which will be delivered to the EU Energy Transition Partnership so that they can take them into account when developing their roadmap for 2024.
This document can be requested, free of charge, by contacting the WestMED National Hub Spain.
Media coverage
This event was widely covered by the press: on television (IB3/ Noticies) and in online media
Online articles
Pressreader Spain
Menorca.info
Xunta de Galicia 1 | Xunta de Galicia 2
Galicia Press
CostaOeste
NoticiasVigo
Govclipping
La Voz de Galicia
Cluster Marítimo Español
Set against the picturesque backdrop of Svendborg, Denmark, this annual event, hosted at the International Maritime Academy (SIMAC), promises to be enlighting for the maritime world.
On May 30-31, EMD 2024 will attract Ocean Leaders from across Europe to converge, deliberate, and establish collaborations focused on addressing pressing challenges and promising opportunities within the blue economy and marine ecosystem.
Kickstarting the festivities on May 30, the High-Level event on the main stage will feature prominent policymakers, including Charlina Vitcheva, Director General at DG MARE, along with representatives from Denmark, France, Portugal, and Moldova. This session, scheduled from 10:30 to 11:45, will spotlight the remarkable success of the EU Sea Basin Strategies as pivotal drivers of the Blue Economy, offering valuable insights into fostering sustainable maritime growth.
Later that day, from 15:00 to 16:15, a workshop led by the Sea Basins Assistance Mechanism (that includes the WestMED, Atlantic and Black Sea) will disclose synergies amongst EU “blue” initiatives. Expert speakers from EU4OCEAN, Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, and the Energy Transition Partnership for EU fisheries and aquaculture will shed light on collaborative pathways for sustainable marine development.
EMD 2024 serves as an interactive in-person conference and exhibition. A place where businesses, governments, NGOs, academia, and EU citizens connect and discover. Through engaging discussions, workshops, and pitch sessions, stakeholders actively help shape the maritime agenda, tackle current challenges, and chart a course for future opportunities.
EU Sea Basin Synergies Workshop info and registration (Registration for the conference required)
The WestMED Initiative actively participated in the 2nd UfM Blue Economy Stakeholder Conference, which took place in Athens on February 19 and 20, 2024.
Background
The WestMED Initiative follows up on the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Declaration on the Blue Economy endorsed by the Union for Mediterranean (UfM) which took place on the 17 November 2015, inviting the participating countries to explore the added value and feasibility of appropriate maritime strategies at sub-regional level, and build on the experience of the 5+5 Dialogue.
In October 2016, Foreign Affairs Ministers from Algeria, France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia encouraged further work on an initiative for the sustainable development of the blue economy, alongside the UfM Secretariat.
In the UfM Ministerial Declaration on Sustainable Blue Economy (2021), Ministers “welcome the successful completion of the launch of the ‘Initiative for the sustainable development of the blue economy in the western Mediterranean’ (WestMED)”, and “recognise both the WestMED initiative as successful examples of cooperation, focused on clear goals, priorities and measurable targets and as a catalyst for the development of sustainable blue economy projects in the region”.
The endorsing countries pursue the same priorities under the UfM Working Group and the WestMED Steering Committee: fostering the promotion of the blue economy, achieving a safer maritime space and improving the maritime governance.
Conference involvement
On the occasion of the 2nd UfM Blue Economy Stakeholder Conference, the WestMED Initiative assisted the UfM both in terms of organization and participation.
At institutional level, the new WestMED Portuguese Co-Presidency represented by Ms. Marisa Lameiras da Silva, Director General for Maritime Policy in Portugal participated as one of the key speakers in the session of marine renewable energy, providing the success case of Portugal developing offshore energy and its potential replicability in the Mediterranean.
From the Commission side, Ms. Delilah Al Khudhairy, Director for Maritime Policy and Blue Economy, Mr. Christos Economou, Head of Unit for Maritime Regional Cooperation and Mr. Manuel Pleguezuelo, policy officer and WestMED coordinator from DG MARE, participated in numerous sessions showing a strong commitment to the sustainable blue economy in the Mediterranean. The same for Ms. Anja Detant (CINEA), as project manager of the WestMED Assistance Mechanism contract, who highlighted the WestMED Initiative and the award winning projects during the ‘Spotlights on Projects’ session.
At operational level, the WestMED Assistance Mechanism participated in different workshops as experts, moderators and rapporteurs, providing technical expertise. They also supported the UfM Secretariat behind-the-scenes in the development of the Conference.
The conference served as a crucial milestone to assess progress, discuss challenges, and engage the entire Mediterranean Sustainable Blue Economy Community in shaping further deliberations at political and practical level.
A concrete example of succesful cooperation beyond the western Mediterranean was the MoU signed during the conference among the Tunisian and Greek Maritime Clusters (with groundwork through the WestMED Cluster Alliance) to further boost the blue economy between the western and eastern Mediterranean.
Photos: copyright UfM secretariat
The European Blue Forum consisting of stakeholders from all 5 EU sea basins has published its first 2 Position papers related to key issues concerning the European Seas
Paper 1: What do we need from European Seas by 2030, and are we asking too much?
Paper 2: What does a fossil fuel free sustainable blue economy look like? How can we as a community support this transition?
These 2 papers, crafted collaboratively by European Blue Forum members through insightful discussions over the past 10 months are now accessible.
The documents are set to serve as a significant statement on maritime and coastal stakeholders’ common issues, challenges and future expectations for our European Seas. They gather the needs of the European Blue Forum members and provides the main axes of action for the years to come.
The papers will be presented during a public meeting of the inter-parliamentary group SEARICA in Brussels on 7th March 2024.
The last time stakeholders had the possibility to get together as exhibitors was in 2023.
The European Commission, the City of Svendborg and the Danish Maritime Authority are happy to be able to offer this possibility once again and to give stakeholders the chance to showcase their projects and initiatives in an exhibition.
All corresponding information can be found through the EMD website, or by direct link EMD 2024 call for exhibition.
The deadline to apply is the 22 March 2024 at 23h59. Please note that the call is launched on a “first come first served” basis and the call may therefore be closed before the deadline if the amount of applicants already reaches the threshold.
A new policy report, commissioned by the European Commission (DG Near) to the EuroMeSCo network, and developed by eco-union under the supervision of the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), aims to assess the status and potential of the sustainable Blue Economy in the Mediterranean region, including an analysis of socioeconomic benefits and impacts in relevant Blue Economy activities.
This report not only encapsulates the current state of the Blue Economy in the Mediterranean but also serves as a guide for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders, pointing towards a future where sustainable practices drive economic growth while safeguarding the invaluable marine ecosystems of the region.
Source: Eco-Union website
For Spanish, click here | Webinar recording available below or on YouTube
On December 18, 2023, WestMED’s National Hub Spain hosted a webinar titled “Opportunities and experiences for decarbonizing recreational and fishing vessels and ports”.
The meeting, organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, brought together 97 participants with representatives from authorities (regional, national), companies, SMEs, NGOs, scientists, clusters, fishing associations, FLAGs and universities (list of participants).
Main objectives
The webinar supports the effort to decarbonize the fishing and recreational boating sector in the Western Mediterranean and help achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal, including the reduction of GHG emissions, while taking into consideration the profitability, sustainability and resilience of these sectors.
The main objectives of this Webinar were to:
• Raise awareness of the WestMED Initiative and its Assistance Mechanism
• Discuss opportunities and challenges of decarbonizing ports and recreational and fishing vessels
• Provide the perspective of the fishing and recreational boating industry (perspectives of ports and vessels) in the face of the decarbonization challenges
• Discuss possible energy sources, technological solutions, regulatory frameworks and general opportunities and challenges to move towards decarbonization efforts
• Share the efforts by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
• Share the efforts by the General Directorate of the Merchant Navy and the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility
• Interact with the most relevant stakeholders at the national level regarding the decarbonization of ports and recreational and fishing vessels
Welcome/ Opening
Jose Maria Solano, national representative of the WestMED Initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, highlighted the decarbonization efforts in Spain, both on the Atlantic and Mediterranean shores, where up-to-today, there is still no viable technology of zero emissions that allows total decarbonization of the fishing and/or recreational fleet.
Objectives and context of decarbonization in the Western Mediterranean
Marta Pascual, Spanish national hub of the WestMED Initiative, explained the opportunities for European funding and collaboration through European projects with the support of the WestMED Initiative and, more specifically, under the advice of the Assistance Mechanism. Marta explained that the results and materials from the webinar would be sent to the Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) so that they could take them into account in the roadmap they are developing for 2024
(see presentation)
Spanish position regarding the decarbonization of the fishing fleet
Francisco Manuel Fernández Martínez, deputy director of the general secretariat of fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, expressed the Spanish position regarding the energy transition of the fishing fleet.
(see presentation)
Fernández Martínez explained the commission’s communication on the energy transition in the fishing and aquaculture sector (February 21, 2023), highlighted the state and typology of the Spanish fishing fleet and reflected on what the 3 challenges that the fishing sector faces in order to carry out decarbonization: technological barriers, knowledge and legislative barriers, and financial barriers.
He also listed the 4 main areas of action: 1) Improvement of the governance and cooperation/coordination framework between the different actors involved; 2) Overcome existing technological and knowledge gaps through R&D; 3) Improve the business environment of the activity, including those related to financial opportunities; 4) Manpower trained and prepared in the new skills that will be necessary in the Energy Transition.
Decarbonization and sustainability of the nautical industry
Jordi Carrasco, general director of the National Association of Nautical Companies – ANEN, commented that the recreational boating sector is very heterogeneous (marinas, shipyards, auxiliary industry, rental, etc.) but that the sustainability from a global approach: Advancing engines with the reduction of their emissions, controlling pollution, promoting electric and solar-powered boats, with new construction methods that work on the decarbonization of the entire life cycle of recreational boating . Mr. Carrasco commented on the results of the Ricardo Report which was commissioned from Ricardo plc by ICOMIA – International Council of Marine Industry Associations.
This report highlights that the nautical sector represents less than 0.1% of total greenhouse gas emissions and focuses on propulsion technologies in recreational vessels less than 24 meters in length (5 propulsion and fuel storage systems). energy and 9 categories of vessels). The conclusion of the report are that there is no single solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the propulsion of recreational boats and that we must focus on understanding the type of use of the boat in order to suggest different propulsion systems. It was also commented that the impact of alternative propulsion on the prices of future pleasure boats is expected to increase between 5% and 250%, depending on the technology used. This is why it is urgent to carry out an analysis of the life cycle of the sector with a comprehensive vision from design and manufacturing to the end of the useful life of the vessels.
Decarbonization in fishing vessels
Next, Miguel J. Núñez Sánchez, Transport Counselor of the Permanent Representation of Spain to the EU, presented the opportunities and experiences of decarbonization in fishing vessels (industrial fishing) taking into account the great difference that exists between merchant and fishing vessels since It is a sector to which the legislation that applies is less (MARPOL Convention). In addition to this, sustainability is sought throughout the life cycle, both in the production part (fishing and transport chain) and in the life cycle analysis of the vessels.
However, the analysis and regulation of emissions in the transport chain will not be applied to fishing vessels. Mr. Núñez also commented on the difficulties of fishing vessels in obtaining an efficiency index. This means that fishing boats must generate their own efficiency indices that measure the best energy efficiency in engines, residual heat, lower powers, uses of low-consumption lighting, better cold management, etc. (different from the FuelEU Maritime or the Count Emissions index).
(see presentation)
Presentation of projects: “Study of the implementation of electric motors in the Albufera boats” and “Construction of the Albufera pilot boat
Amparo Aleixandre Puchades, Manager of the GALP of Gandía Albufera, presented two projects: “Study of the implementation of electric motors in the Albufera boats” and “Construction of the Albufera pilot boat”.
The study consisted of an environmental, economic and energy analysis and determined and categorized the use and movements of the boats in l’Albufera to know which of these boats could go from having combustion engines to electric motors. The study led to a pilot test of a boat in l’Albufera that is currently in use.
(see presentation)
Business perspectives: Torqeedo GmbH/ CASTALIA Project
In the final part of the event, two companies were invited to give their business perspective on decarbonization and show their adaptation solutions.
Carlos Martínez, Iberia & South America Manager of Torqueedo GmbH presented their advanced electric propulsion options in water as they are pioneers and leaders in the recreational boating market. Carlos explained to us what electric propulsion is for (pure electric) and what it is not for. It is not suitable for large lengths that want to move quickly, it is suitable for short distances and 10-12m boats. If we look at the life cycle, batteries pollute and that is why we have to look at the solution, but also at their use.
Next, Mr Ramón Zubiaga from Consulmar and Samuel Gómez from the SYM NAVAL Shipyard presented their port services and the CASTALIA project, a 100% electric, zero-emission, multipurpose vessel.
(Presentation Torqeedo)
(Presentation project Castallia: SYM Blue brochure | video)
Main Conclusions
Webinar recording (in Spanish)