The European Boating Industry (EBI) has launched “Energy Transition for Recreational Boating in Europe: A roadmap for alternative fuel infrastructure”, which provides guidance on the decarbonisation of recreational boating across the region.
The new roadmap promotes a technology-neutral approach that reflects the diversity of vessels and marina operations and calls for coordinated action between EU institutions, national authorities, marina operators and industry organisations.
EBI states that the recreational boating sector is proactively contributing to Europe’s climate targets, involving more than 6.5 million vessels and representing around 0.4 percent of transport greenhouse gas emissions.
The roadmap places marinas at the centre of infrastructure planning, highlighting the need for infrastructure to develop alongside new propulsion systems. EBI notes that Europe’s estimated 10,000 to 20,000 marinas, many of which are small or locally managed, face financial and operational limits for major infrastructure investments.
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) has been identified as an immediate option for emissions reduction. The roadmap states that it can be used in many existing diesel engines without significant modification or new infrastructure. It also highlights the potential to reduce lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions by up to 90 percent compared to fossil diesel, while reducing particulate and nitrogen oxide emissions.
Alongside HVO, electric and hybrid propulsion systems are expanding in smaller vessels and inland waterways. Hydrogen and methanol are also identified as longer-term options, still under development for wider use in the sector.
As coordinator, EBI will work with institutions on policy priorities, funding opportunities and infrastructure support, while also collaborating with industry partners such as ICOMIA/IMEC, EUROMOT and marina certification programmes.
EBI plans to review progress with stakeholders every one to two years and support knowledge-sharing through technical webinars and industry events. It also intends to collect information on fuel use and alternative fuels across its network and develop a decision-making tool to help marina operators assess infrastructure options based on local conditions, vessel types, regulations and grid capacity.
Philip Easthill, secretary-general of EBI, said: “The recreational boating sector is committed to contributing to Europe’s energy transition. Our roadmap shows that the solutions are being developed and a multi-pathway approach is the way forward. Europe’s diverse boating ecosystem requires a pragmatic and technology-neutral approach supported by the right infrastructure, investment and regulatory framework. We look forward to presenting the roadmap to the EU institutions and cooperating with all players to make progress in the coming years to support sustainability and competitiveness of the sector.”
The roadmap aligns with the EU Sustainable Transport Investment Plan and the Industrial Maritime Strategy, both aimed at increasing investment in low-carbon and renewable fuels across the transport and maritime sectors.
