Estonia, one of the Northern European leaders in maritime green technologies and ship retrofitting, on Thursday (29 May) said it has launched a EUR 25 million (USD 29 million) government grant designed to encourage the reconstruction and greening of passenger and cargo ships, tugboats and other port and auxiliary vessels in Estonian ports.

This makes Estonia one of the few countries in Europe offering direct financial support in the form of state aid for ship retrofitting. The new grant, enacted by Estonia’s Minister of Infrastructure, Kuldar Leis, provides shipowners and operators with subsidies covering 15% to 30% of eligible retrofit costs, up to a maximum of EUR 5 million per project. For instance, in order to qualify for a 30% support rate, the vessel must be converted into a zero-emission ship. Additionally, factors such as the ship’s flag state and how frequently it visits local ports also influence the rate of support. 

“Global demand for cleaner maritime transport is growing rapidly. Estonian marine industry companies have the expertise and experience to deliver world-class retrofit services and support shipowners in making their fleets more environmentally friendly,” said Minister of Infrastructure Kuldar Leis. 

“From design and technical consulting to implementation and maintenance, Estonian ports offer convenient and efficient hubs for retrofit projects.”

For maritime companies looking to modernise their fleets, the grant creates a significant incentive to adopt greener solutions such as installing hybrid engines, adopting equipment powered by renewable fuels, or implementing exhaust gas cleaning systems. Other innovations that reduce pollution and improve energy efficiency are also eligible for support.

“This grant program marks a key milestone in Estonia’s drive toward greener, more sustainable maritime practices. By supporting the adoption of innovative technologies, we are helping maritime operators reduce their environmental footprint and prepare for future challenges,” said Kaupo Läänerand, Deputy Secretary General for Maritime and Water Affairs at the Estonian Ministry of Climate. 

“With the maritime sector now included in the EU Emissions Trading System, this measure helps channel revenues collected from shipowners back into supporting their transition to greener technologies.”

As stricter environmental regulations loom, the need for ships capable of operating with hydrogen and electric propulsion systems, carbon capture technologies, and advanced software solutions is set to grow. Estonia is prepared to meet this demand through the Estonian Marine Greentech & Retrofit Hub — a one-stop solution offering comprehensive services for green ship retrofitting.

Note: The grant is subject to the conditions available on the website of the Estonian Environmental Investment Centre.

Photo credit: CHUTTERSNAP from Unsplash
Published: 26 May, 2025

From 1 January 2025, there will be a restriction on the use of open-loop scrubbers for seagoing vessels in the port of Amsterdam, according to the port authority on Thursday (19 December). 

The port authority said the open-loop scrubbers discharge polluted washing water into its port waters and the ban will contribute to a cleaner marine environment.

“In order to combat water and soil pollution in the Port of Amsterdam, a restriction on the use of open-loop scrubbers will apply from 1 January 2025. The ban applies on ships that are berthed. There, the discharge of the washing water is most locally concentrated,” it said on its website. 

In the case of a hybrid scrubber system, seagoing vessels must switch to closed-loop, or switch to another cleaner fuel that meets the sulphur environmental standards, such as Marine Gas Oil.

In 2023, approximately 100 seagoing vessels with an open-loop scrubber called at the Port of Amsterdam. In addition to Amsterdam, the ban already is in place in the ports of Antwerp, Hamburg, French and several Scandinavian ports. 

Milembe Mateyo, Harbor Master at Port of Amsterdam, said: “With this decision, we are combating the pollution of the marine environment. It is another step closer to a cleaner port and an acceleration in the sustainability of shipping.”

Note: The full copy of decree on the restriction of the use of exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers) in Amsterdam can be viewed here.

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Frank22
Published: 23 December, 2024

LNG bunker fuel supplier Titan on Thursday (17 October) has slammed energy giant Shell for its recent decision to order 10 conventional marine-fuelled product tankers fitted with scrubbers.

Titan said the move seemed “to contrast the agenda” both companies were pushing for, to make the maritime industry cleaner by investing in bunkering infrastructure to accommodate the decarbonisation of shipping.

“Shell, are you forfeiting your right to be a leader of the energy transition? With great power comes great responsibility,” it said in a social media post. 

“You carefully positioned yourself as an industry leader in the movement towards more sustainable and cleaner marine fuels. With your size, you hugely influence the industry and are a strong advocate for LNG as a marine fuel,” it said, adding that it was “surprised” when it saw a news report on the move. 

Given Shell’s leadership role, Titan said the decision raised questions about how it aligned with the company’s commitment to decarbonisation. 

“We’re genuinely interested in hearing more about your strategy for balancing these choices and how you view the LNG pathway in the bigger picture,” it said. 

It also said that Shell, adding more scrubber-fitted conventional fuel tankers to the current fleet sends a “strange signal” to the industry. 

“At Titan, we remain fully committed to driving this transition forward, offering a reliable supply of LNG, bio-LNG, and soon e-LNG to those already leading the way. Our focus remains on putting clean fuel into every ship,” Titan said. 

“Let’s continue pushing the boundaries and make sure shipping doesn’t take a step back.”

Photo credit: Titan
Published: 18 October 2024