Assessments of the impacts and development needs of the green transition in maritime transport published
The Ministry of Transport and Communications has published three reports on the green transition in maritime transport.
The reports relate to the Government resolution of 2021 on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from sea and inland waterway transport.
Finland is committed to the targets of both the EU and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for reducing emissions from maritime transport. It is the target of the IMO that the greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping be reduced by at least 50% by 2050 compared to the 2008 level. Negotiations are currently under way to raise the target to 100%.
In the maritime transport sector, the transition to low-emission fuels and propulsion systems is essential in order to reduce maritime emissions in line with international objectives. The transition to new fuels is a global change and a challenge for a small country such as Finland. It concerns the shipping industry and ports but also operators in the sustainable production and distribution of fuels and electricity.
Maritime transport is vital for Finland, as approximately 90 percent of Finnish exports of goods and 80 per cent of imports of goods are carried by sea.
The study commissioned by the Ministry assessed the need to develop alternative power sources and fuel distribution infrastructure in ports.
The Fit for 55 Package by the European Commission includes proposals for a regulation on emissions trading in shipping and on the use of renewable and low-emission fuels. Another study commissioned by the Ministry assessed the impact of these proposals on the trends in the marine fuel market in Europe and Finland.
In addition, the government potential to support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from shipping was examined.
What's next?
The results of the studies will be taken into account when the Ministry of Transport and Communications considers further steps to implement the resolution and when Finland prepares for the implementation of IMO and EU regulations on emissions from maritime transport.
Inquiries:
Eero Hokkanen, Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 50 476 0401, [email protected], Twitter @eerohokkanen
Development of the market for alternative fuels in maritime transport and its impact on the costs of maritime transport to Finland: Impacts of the FuelEU Maritime and emissions trading on marine fuel options. 2022:13.
Institutional Repository for the Government (Valto) A report on the government potential to support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from vessel traffic. 2022:14.
Institutional Repository for the Government (Valto) Government resolution on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from maritime and inland waterway transport. 2021:12
