Considering Europe’s goal to meet climate neutrality by 2050, which are the main challenges for shipping? What innovative technologies or alternative fuels do you see as solutions to reduce emissions and achieve the climate targets?

The path to climate neutrality by 2050 presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the maritime industry. The main hurdles lie in the availability, scalability, and affordability of alternative fuels, as well as the lack of global regulatory alignment. Infrastructure readiness and fuel supply chains remain fragmented, while the cost of new technologies often limits their early adoption.

Europe’s waterborne sector is fully committed to the green transition. However, the most pressing challenge today is the widening gap between climate ambition and the actual support available to make it a reality, while ensuring European shipping remains globally competitive.

To bridge this gap, we require increased resources to mitigate the risks associated with investments in clean technologies and alternative fuels. This is essential to strengthen Europe’s industrial position internationally. What we need is more investment, not protectionist measures such as tariffs or port fees that restrict trade and undermine Europe’s global standing.

Decarbonization is extremely costly. Alternative fuels can be up to four times more expensive than conventional ones, and new vessels, such as dual-fuel ships, can cost up to 25% more. Yet European operators are left to shoulder these costs alone. If we want to decarbonize without deindustrializing, a global level playing field must remain a guiding principle.

What about the EU supporting mechanisms? Are they sufficient?

Access to EU funding instruments such as the Innovation Fund remains unnecessarily complex. Application processes are burdensome, timelines are long, and success rates are low. Disclosure requirements further discourage participation by companies developing proprietary, innovative technologies, putting EU-based innovation at a disadvantage.

Similarly, so-called “green” lending by banks provides limited practical benefit. Key performance indicators are fragmented and inconsistent, while reductions in interest rates, often just a few basis points, are insufficient to drive meaningful investment. Financial and regulatory frameworks must evolve to match the level of ambition set by policymakers.

At Lemissoler, we view innovation as central to addressing these challenges. We have invested heavily in energy-efficient vessel designs and dual-fuel (DF) technologies, with methanol and ammonia emerging as promising alternatives. A series of DF Methanol Dry Bulk vessels is due for delivery as of Q3 of 2026. In addition, tailor-made energy-saving devices, advanced hull coatings, and digital performance optimization tools can deliver immediate efficiency gains. The combination of technological innovation, data-driven operations, and collaboration across the supply chain will be key to achieving decarbonization at scale.

According to your opinion, what are the enabling factors to accelerate the energy transition of the industry?

To accelerate the industry’s transition, we need an ecosystem approach built on collaboration, policy coherence, and investment. Key enablers include:

• Stable and predictable regulations aligned with global frameworks. Unfortunately, this failed to materialize during the last MEPC, resulting in greater uncertainty and an unpredictable trajectory for the sector.
• Access to green financing and incentives for innovation and fleet renewal. Revenues from the EU ETS and FuelEU must be ring-fenced and reinvested into maritime decarbonization. EU Member States should be required to allocate national ETS revenues to support green shipbuilding, innovative clean technologies, alternative fuel production, and the necessary bunkering infrastructure.
  In addition, the EU must simplify and tailor its financing instruments, creating maritime-specific innovation calls, accelerating access to funding, and offering realistic financial incentives. It should also encourage private equity investment through tools such as tax allowances on revenues from sustainability-linked bonds or green bonds.
• Development of scalable fuel infrastructure and supply chains for low- and zero-carbon fuels. The EU should mandate European fuel suppliers to produce the transition fuels the industry needs.
• Partnerships between shipowners, fuel producers, technology providers, and ports to drive integrated solutions.
• Data transparency and performance benchmarking, enabling continuous improvement and accountability.

The transition will not happen overnight, but by aligning environmental objectives with economic sustainability, we can ensure a just and effective transformation that strengthens Europe’s leadership in global shipping.