By a joint letter the European associations that represent shipowners, ports, cruise industry, shipyards naval, equipment manufacturers, fuel suppliers, shippers, freight forwarders and port operators have urged the EU Member States and the European Parliament to target the sector maritime revenues generated by the inclusion of the maritime sector in the EU ETS, the EU Emissions Trading System. In particular, they called for the revenue to be allocated to reduce the price gap between conventional marine fuels and clean ones, to finance research, development and innovation and the increase and diffusion of energy and technologies clean on board and on the ground.

In addition, the associations ECSA, Advanced Biofuels Coalition, CLECAT, CLIA, ENMC, eFuel Alliance, ESC, ESPO, EWABA, FEPORT and SEA Europe stressed that the investments in port infrastructure, in the connection to the land electricity grid, in energy storage and in the diffusion of renewable energies. To achieve the objectives EU climate, according to the associations is also essential support for training, upskilling and the retraining of seafarers.

"The maritime industry - said Sotiris Raptis, Secretary-General of the European Shipowners' Association ECSA - Today it speaks with one voice and calls on the Member States and the Council to allocate ETS revenue to support the transition energy in the maritime sector. 80% of current ETS revenues are already used for the energy transition of sectors Ets. The Council and Parliament have already allocated the aviation revenue under the current revision of the ETS. The maritime sector must be put on a equality, taking into account that our sector is one of the more difficult to decarbonize".

"Making the maritime sector greener - he taken over Isabelle Ryckbost, secretary general of the association of EspO European ports - involves significant investments both on board of ships that in ports, while the return on investment is limited and uncertain for the entities that manage the ports. Creation of a dedicated fund that supports the deployment of infrastructure for low- and zero-carbon fuels both on board of the ship that on land is therefore essential to reach the objectives for which the EU ETS is designed'.

Marie-Caroline Laurent, Managing Director of CLIA Europe, recalled that "the cruise industry is doing huge investments in new technologies to reduce its footprint carbon. A dedicated fund generated from ETS revenue - explained - will accelerate the industry's efforts to distribute sustainable marine fuels and will support the introduction the necessary port infrastructure'.

Christophe Tytgat, Secretary General of SEA Europe, the association representing the European shipyards, has underlined the importance of these funds for the sector European navalmeccanico: 'the technology industry European maritime - he noted - develops ships and technologies most advanced on the market. The destination of revenue of the EU ETS - he highlighted - will be of fundamental importance, as it will accelerate innovation and expand the application of more sustainable fuels and technologies, also strengthening Europe's leading role."