European Maritime Transport Environmental Report 2025

(ISES ASSOCIATION NEWS) This second edition of the European Maritime Transport Environmental Report (EMTER 2025) examines the progress made towards achieving Europe′s decarbonisation targets and environmental goals for the maritime sector while indicating the most important trends, key challenges, and opportunities. The objective was to update the indicators developed for the first report, analyse new datasets, and fill existing gaps, to provide a data and knowledge-based assessment of the maritime transport sector′s transition to sustainability.

Promising progress in various domains

Sulphur oxides (SOx) emissions

There has been a notable decrease in total Sulphur oxides (SOx) emissions in the
EU, with model data for 2023 estimating a reduction of approximately 70% since 2014. While the global sulphur cap, introduced in 2020, contributed to this decline, the primary driver has been the implementation of Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECAs) in the Baltic Sea and North Sea. Starting 1 May 2025, the Mediterranean Sea will become the third SECA in European waters, and North-East Atlantic countries are considering establishing an ECA, potentially by 2027. These measures should bring substantial health and environmental benefits, improving air quality across the EU. In addition, according to the Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Convention (LTRAP) inventory, the share of maritime SOx emissions has slightly declined compared to the other transport modes.

Non-indigenous species

The shipping sector has played a significant role in the introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS) and invasive alien species (IAS) in Europe, mainly through ballast water and hull fouling, which account for 60% of NIS and 56% of IAS introductions. However, while the number of NIS continues to increase, the introduction of IAS peaked between 2000 and 2005 and has since decreased. The International Ballast Water Management Convention entered into force in 2017, and by 2023, 31% of the ships held an International Ballast Water Management Certificate, while 23% had compliant ballast water management systems.

Delivery and collection of waste from ships at EU ports

2023 marked the first full year of data reporting under the Port Reception Facilities (PRF) Directive, providing insights into the volumes and types of waste delivered by ships and collected by ports. The largest amounts of waste delivered to port reception facilities were oily waste and garbage, followed by sewage. Leading ports such as Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Copenhagen handled the highest volumes of waste, highlighting the significant role ports play in managing waste from ships. Additionally, the introduction of the Passively Fished Waste program under the PRF Directive enabled an analysis of 2022 data, revealing that 26% of the waste passively collected by fishermen was plastic. Ongoing efforts to engage the fishing sector in collecting and delivering waste to ports and reporting waste caught in their nets during routine fishing activities remain critical and are being successfully implemented.

Underwater noise

Continuous underwater radiated noise from ships impacts wildlife negatively. To
address the lack of consistent monitoring data across the EU, new model data now provides a comprehensive, pan-European overview, allowing quantitative like‑for‑like comparisons of shipping contributions to ambient sound between regions, vessel categories, years, and forecast scenarios from 2016 to 2050. Areas that have the highest sound pressure level values in Europe include parts of the English Channel; the Strait of Gibraltar; parts of the Adriatic Sea; the Dardanelles Strait; and some regions in the Baltic Sea. The lowest values are recorded in the north‑west part of the North-East Atlantic Ocean, particularly around the Denmark Strait and the Irminger Sea, and the southern part of the Mediterranean Sea. Foresight modelling has identified technical and operational mitigation measures that could reduce underwater radiated noise by up to 70% from 2030 to 2050 compared to a business‑as-usual scenario, thanks to the implementation of underwater radiated noise and greenhouse gas mitigation measures.

Extensive research on-going

This report underlines the crucial role of research and innovation in facilitating the maritime transport sector’s shift towards environmental sustainability. Significant EU investments are driving advancements in clean technologies across diverse areas like renewable energy, hydrogen, and carbon capture. Efforts are focused on developing alternative fuels and energy-efficient ship designs, alongside technologies to reduce air pollutants and improve operational efficiencies through digitalisation. Moreover, research aims to enhance port automation, sustainable waste management practices, and the adoption of circular economy principles to minimise environmental impact.

Environmental pressures from maritime transport

Maritime transport remains vital for EU trade and economic growth (about 75%
of EU merchandise imports and exports rely on maritime transport), however, it
also contributes to environmental issues, emphasising the need for sustainable
practices to mitigate its impact. An analysis of the pressures the sector places on the environment is included in EMTER.