Short Sea Shipping Decarbonization under the European Green Deal FrameworkFeasibility of Technical Solutions for the Fleet

Abstract

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has been the international technical organisation in charge of setting international standards for shipping worldwide, but the lack of concrete action and its slowness has been a constant feature until now, raising many criticisms. This lack of speed led the EU to include shipping in the Green Deal framework. In July 2021, the EU detailed measures to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) in European shipping, such as the gradual inclusion of emissions in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), the limitation of GHG intensity, the revision of the Energy Taxation Directive and the FuelEU maritime. This regulatory framework presents an opportunity to make Short Sea Shipping (SSS) a sustainable mode of transport. However, the fulfilment of the challenges set out in the European Green Deal means that the studies previously carried out on fleet optimisation and therefore on its competitiveness are under discussion. This is why this thesis project proposes the technical and operational identification of the most suitable SSS fleet to meet the requirements of the European Green Deal while maintaining its competitiveness.