POSEIDON project partner RINA conducted a study on shipping decarbonisation exploring the transition towards alternative fuels in the maritime transport sector, focusing on both technical and regulatory perspectives.
Key areas of the survey
This study consists of two main parts. The first part provides a comprehensive technical and regulatory analysis, examining the current fuel usage trends and accessing the potential role of low-carbon alternatives in maritime transport. It also explores how international and regional regulations are shaping the adoption of cleaner fuels, highlighting compliance as a key drive of change.
The second part of the study focuses on stakeholder feedback regarding alternative fuels. Inputs were gathered from industry, regulatory and maritime representatives to identify perceived challenges and opportunities. Common concerns include high investment costs for new technologies, infrastructure readiness, and regulatory, uncertainty. Stakeholders noted that some fuels appear promising due to compatibility with existing systems, though large-scale deployment remains constrained by cost and supply chain limitations.
Results implications
To accelerate adoption, the study underscores the importance of policy incentives, collaborative frameworks, and strategic investments to mitigate financial risks and support infrastructure development. These findings will guide future initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable fuel solutions across diverse contexts. Lessons learnt will be crucial for upcoming project activities, including strategies to foster the uptake of sustainable alternative fuels, both for the project case studies – the two ports of Valencia and Thessaloniki – and for other replication cases such as major EU ports. POSEIDON will share more detailed results once they become available.
