Freight News, Sea


‘Filthy’ ferries pollute more than cars, says report

[ March 26, 2026   //   ]

Emissions from ferries are outpacing those from car traffic in several European port cities, according to analysis by clean energy advocate Transport & Environment.

The report found that ferries emit as much CO2 as 6.6 million cars annually, and that port cities, including Dublin, Barcelona and Naples, experience higher levels of harmful air pollution from ferries than from road traffic.

In response, NatPower Marine, which develops maritime charging infrastructure said that high-frequency ferry routes such as Dublin–Holyhead and Belfast–Heysham, and the Channel routes with France, Belgium and the Netherlands, were not only among the most intensively used in Europe but also the most suitable for electrification due to predictable schedules and regular port dwell times.

It added that fully electric ferries are already operating in Europe and China, demonstrating that maritime electrification is now happening at scale. China’s latest five-year plan signals a major acceleration, targeting the electrification of ferries and container feeder vessels by 2030 and positioning the country as a leader in electric shipping, as it has in electric vehicles.

However, the T&E report suggests that while up to 60% of Europe’s ferry fleet could be electrified by 2035, with many routes already cheaper to operate using battery power, deployment is being held back by limited grid access and insufficient port-side charging capacity.

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