Freight News, Sea

Ferry decarbonisation fails to keep pace with emission taxes

[ January 21, 2026   //   Chris Lewis ]

Ferry operators are facing rising costs under the EU Emissions Trading System faster than practical decarbonisation solutions are being deployed, warns an industry association.

Interferry says that emissions penalties are being imposed before the infrastructure needed to reduce them is in place, raising costs for operators but without delivering emissions reductions.

Green Shipping Corridors, formally launched at COP26 through the Clydebank Declaration, were designed to provide that delivery pathway. However, more than four years on, the focus is increasingly shifting from policy frameworks to implementation, with short-sea Green Shipping Corridors widely recognised as the fastest and most viable way to move from commitment to delivery.

It points to routes such as Heysham–Belfast as examples of how short-sea Green Shipping Corridors can move rapidly from policy ambition to delivery on the quayside. By installing shore power and e-ship charging infrastructure at the port, emissions can be cut immediately, giving operators the confidence to invest in electric and hybrid vessels.

It describes the Heysham as a landmark step, with the potential to eliminate more than 10,000 tonnes of CO2 annually and sending a clear signal of commitment from all involved.

Tags: Interferry