FLEETfor55: pioneering sustainable maritime transport to meet EU Fit for 55 targets

Challenge

Maritime transport accounts for 13.5% of EU transport emissions. Vessels above 5 000 gross tonnes account for 55% of all ships and are responsible for 90% of CO2 emissions from the maritime sector.

The FuelEU maritime regulation (part of Fit for 55 package) will oblige vessels above 5 000 gross tonnes calling at European ports to reduce the GHG intensity of the energy used on board from -6% in 2030 to -80% in 2050. Thus, meeting ambitious emission reduction targets is imperative and requires a holistic design approach including efficiency improvement technologies both for new builds and retrofits.

FLEETfor55 project seeks to address these challenges by leveraging the ZEWT Partnership's existing network of stakeholders and infrastructure to demonstrate the state-of-the-art emission reduction and efficiency improvement technologies in ship design and retrofitting. 

FLEETfor55 focuses on identifying cost-effective and sustainable implementation of Energy Efficiency Technologies (EETs) to address the EU “Fit for 55” package objectives by 2030 and to meet the global climate targets. With a ‘design for operation approach’ EETs will be optimized for energy use and emissions reduction for various vessel types, considering both new designs and retrofit use cases. Additionally, the project will integrate a decision support system into a web-based digital platform to rapidly assess and benchmark use cases, achieving quantifiable energy efficiency savings and reduced emissions. This initiative seeks to set a new benchmark for sustainability in waterborne transportation.

Approach

Thanks to our deep knowledge of the shipping sector and constant attention to innovation and sustainability, RINA will support FLEETfor55 partners in developing novel technologies to promote the decarbonisation of the maritime field:

- Focus on regulatory compliance and gap analysis of the regulatory framework.
- Present the state of play of the current and forthcoming regulatory framework.
- Address the technical implications of regulatory compliance.
- Manage the evaluation and feasibility of “Alternative EET systems”.
- Define specific use cases, outlining the boundaries and data required to ensure short- and mid-term uptake of the EETs, in line with the EU “Fit for 55” expectations.
- Consider possible combinations and integration of several technologies and solutions.
- Propose solutions for each vessel type, for both new ships and retrofitting, identifying ten (10) use cases.
- Assist in the development of the proposed technologies in all project work packages.
- Support “Design for Operation” solutions.
- Promote synergies and clustering with other ongoing EU R&D projects.
- Connect the project to the WATERBORNE Technology Platform

Finally, we will oversee the conceptual and basic design of the solutions, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and supporting the Approval in Principle process..

Conclusion

The main project outcomes will be:

- A remarkable reduction of environmental impact from shipping emissions, leading to cleaner air and water, which directly benefits communities globally, particularly those in coastal and port regions.
- Increased economic growth and job creation through innovation in sustainable maritime practices, contributing to the development of green economies and new jobs.
- Safe implementation of greening technologies, particularly addressing safety concerns related to novel fuels, thereby safeguarding maritime workers and ecosystems.

This project has received funding under Horizon Europe through the European Climate, Infrastructure, and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). 

Project Consortium