The Green Deal for Europe, ambitious targets for shipping, interesting opportunities for Europe's maritime technology sector

SEA Europe – the Shipyards’ and Maritime Equipment Association of Europe – welcomes the European Green Deal as a very ambitious political engagement from Europe in support of a climate neutral society by 2050.

Europe is currently a global leader in complex shipbuilding as well as in maritime equipment manufacturing, including of complex products. The ships built or retrofitted in Europe as well as the innovative and complex equipment, systems and technologies produced in Europe are instrumental in helping global shipping in meeting its environmental and climate obligations.

“The Green Deal for Europe offers interesting challenges and great opportunities for Europe’s shipyards and maritime equipment industry. It will allow the sector to enhance its global competitiveness, whilst contributing in fulfilling the Commission’s ambitious targets and in building a sustainable blue economy for Europe. To that end, I strongly encourage the European Commission to cooperate closely with SEA Europe on the elaboration and implementation of the Green Deal”, stressed SEA Europe’s Secretary General, Christophe Tytgat.

To transform waterborne transport into a climate neutral transport mode, the recently selected co-programmed partnership for zero-emission waterborne transport will be an essential instrument as it will enable the waterborne sector to further increase its investments in research and development of innovative climate-friendly products. “To that end, it is key for the co-programmed partnership to have a significant high budget”, highlighted Mr. Tytgat. “Equally, SEA Europe is of the view that alternative solutions to ETS for shipping can provide more incentives for global shipping to use Europe’s shipyards and maritime equipment industry”.

Background Note: SEA Europe represents close to 100% of the European shipbuilding industry in 16 nations, encompassing the production, maintenance, repair and conversion of all types of ships and floating structures, commercial as well as naval, including the full supply chain with the various producers of maritime systems, equipment material, and services.

For further information please visit www.seaeurope.eu or contact:
Christophe Tytgat, Secretary General, ct@seaeurope.eu
Tel: +32 (0)2.230.32.87