Raising the stakes on safety and the environment

Intensifying our campaign for the urgent expansion of onshore power supply (OPS) will feature among Interferry’s prime objectives in 2025. We need to seal the deal that is crucial to ferries playing their full part in reducing maritime greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 

IMO’s reduction targets are truly formidable, demanding cuts of 20-30% by 2030 en route to net zero around 2050. In the quest for alternatives to fossil fuels, electrification is a game-changing option for ferry operators. They are already pioneering the energy transition by adopting full-electric or hybrid-electric power systems, but landside electricity infrastructure remains pitifully inadequate. Most existing facilities cater only for ‘cold ironing’ consumption at berth. Investment is long overdue to provide the capacity required to charge propulsion batteries.

As readers may recall, Interferry highlighted the case two years ago with the launch of our lobbying campaign. We’re urging governments, port authorities and electricity suppliers to prioritise the widespread OPS development that is essential to help drive environmental sustainability. First and foremost, this will reduce the ferry sector’s GHG footprint. With annual carryings of some 4.3Bn passengers and 373M vehicles, the emissions-saving potential is enormous. Furthermore, enabling battery propulsion will ease demand for the limited supply of other alternative fuels.

Lack of sufficient OPS infrastructure leaves ferry operators in limbo about ordering further battery-powered vessels. The winds of change are gradually starting to blow stronger among shoreside stakeholders in Europe, the US and Canada, and we mean to ensure this trend gathers pace across the globe.  

The European Shipping Summit 2025, scheduled for Brussels in March, will offer a major opportunity to raise the tempo with OPS decision makers. As a side event, Interferry is hosting a panel of political and industry representatives to lead discussions on a provocative theme: Shore power offers immediate carbon compliance for the ferry sector – but are we on the right track? We want answers on who will pay for the high-power utility upgrades which, in some ports, would require connections with distant generating stations.

Notably, we’ll also question whether governments will heed our call to give something back to the maritime industry by reinvesting a fair proportion of revenues from carbon tax schemes in OPS provision.

Meanwhile, we are deeply involved in two more aspects of the GHG emissions challenge. IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), which governs the allowance for fuel burned per nautical mile, is a particular concern. CII performance is adversely affected for ferries making numerous port calls – fuel consumption is boosted by the dictates of acceleration and manoeuvring. We have recently proposed a balancing mechanism under which compliance is possible based on an operator’s fleet average. 

In addition, we are pushing for the IMO High-Speed Craft Code to be amended as a High Speed and Light Craft Code. The rationale is simple - removing the current minimum speed threshold will open the door to building many more low-emissions lightweight craft.         

As ever, safety enhancement is another of Interferry’s key priorities. We were among industrywide participants in the European Union (EU) 2019-2023 FIRE SAFE project, which examined the risks and containment of fires on roro decks. Much of the research focused on the rapidly expanding market for battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The findings have prompted our heavy engagement with IMO on developing the requirements for carrying BEVs. Our fundamental message is there is no higher fire risk compared with combustion-engine vehicles. Moreover, we will present evidence that conventional drencher systems can control a BEV fire. 

Elsewhere, Interferry has a distinguished history promoting safety in developing nations, dating from support in Bangladesh in 2008. We then established our Domestic Safety Committee, which took the mission to new levels in 2019 with a project in the Philippines. Last April, we turned the spotlight on Africa, collaborating with IMO to cohost a two-day Africa Ferry Safety Seminar in Tanzania. More than 100 pan-African ferry participants were joined by 14 professionals from our worldwide operator and supplier membership. A follow-up workshop took place in October during Interferry’s 48th annual conference in Morocco, which marked the event’s debut in Africa.  

We are now set to develop a comprehensive safety programme reflecting the outcome of both sets of discussions. The exhaustive list of issues includes crew training, proper ticketing to avoid overcrowding, cargo loading and stowage, navigation and incident reporting, replacing old tonnage, design and construction criteria, technology use, management culture and – to make it happen – the crucial need for political will.

Security issues are also driving Interferry’s workload in an era of geopolitical turbulence. Maritime operational technology is coming under cyber attack, which poses significant risks in the logistics chain, while stringent IT-based border controls introduced by the EU have increased the likelihood of disruption and delays during port calls. 

Protecting the planet and protecting life at sea, on lakes and on rivers – that’s the name of the game for Interferry in 2025 and countless years ahead.