Takeaways

• Ferries emit more sulphur pollution than cars in 13 of Europe’s 15 biggest port cities, including several EU capitals.
• Electrifying ferries could sharply cut SOx emissions, with up to 43% potentially electrified by 2030.
• Ports say infrastructure investment and stronger industry cooperation are key to reducing ferry emissions.

Fume-belching ferries are emitting more sulphur pollution than cars in several European Union capitals, according to new analysis by Transport & Environment (T&E), a clean transport advocacy group.

The report found that ferries produce more sulphur oxides (SOx) than road vehicles in 13 of Europe’s 15 largest port cities. Among the affected EU capitals are Dublin, Helsinki, Stockholm, and Tallinn.

Other major cities on the list include Barcelona, Marseille, Rotterdam, and Valencia. Ferries were also found to be a bigger polluter than cars in Athens and Rome, though their ports are counted separately, as well as in Valletta.

Europe’s ageing fleet of nearly 2,000 ferries is described as a large but overlooked source of air pollution. Sulphur oxides are toxic gases that smell like burnt matches and rotten eggs. These gases react in the air to form tiny particles that can enter the lungs, travel through the bloodstream, and damage organs.

Read More: Are EVs Upsetting the ESG Ecosystem?

“Ferries should connect communities, not pollute them,” said Felix Klann, shipping policy analyst at T&E and lead author of the report. He warned that too many ferries continue burning fossil fuels close to densely populated ports.

Unlike large ocean-going vessels, ferries typically operate within five nautical miles of shore and often run short routes. The analysis suggests that electrification is both technically feasible and cost-effective for many services. It estimates that 20% of Europe’s ferries could have been electrified in 2025, rising to 43% by 2030 as battery costs fall and technology improves.

The study modelled air pollution across Europe’s 100 busiest ferry ports using methods from the International Maritime Organization. It compared ferry SOx emissions with those from cars, based on local vehicle registration data.

Stricter sulphur limits in the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean, which cap sulphur content at 0.1% of fuel mass, have already helped reduce emissions. According to the European Environment Agency, these measures have contributed to a 70% drop in sulphur emissions since 2014.

Still, T&E says charging infrastructure remains a key barrier. Most ports would only need relatively small chargers under 5MW, but large upfront investments are required.

Port authorities say they are taking steps. Dublin Port Company is planning shoreside power facilities and exploring a green shipping corridor. The Ports of Stockholm said many ferry operators already meet sulphur limits and connect to onshore power. The Port of Tallinn has installed onshore power at several quays and is assessing electric and hybrid ferries on the busy Tallinn-Helsinki route.

Industry representatives say stronger investment in clean fuels and port infrastructure is essential for decarbonizing shipping.

Also Read: The Growing Need to Reduce Air Pollution Today

As EU climate targets tighten, the debate over sulphur pollution and ferry electrification is likely to intensify across Europe’s port cities.

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Source: The Guardian