European Shipowners (ECSA), at an event today at the European Parliament on the strategic role of maritime transport European Competitiveness Initiative, which is organized by the European Shipowners' Association itself, presented a study on the economic value of transport European maritime sector, which highlights how the sector represents a geopolitical resource for Europe, facilitating the export and the import of goods, food and energy. In addition, the sector generates €148.7 billion in direct economic impact and supports around 1.7 million jobs.

The document recalls that although the EU accounts for around 15% of the world's gross domestic product, the European maritime fleet is one of the largest in the world and accounts for about 34.5% of the global fleet in terms of global tonnage in all segments of ships. In particular, European maritime transport controls 28% of bulk carriers, 45% of ships container ships, 34% of tankers and 32% of LNG carriers. In addition, the European fleet is growing year on year and in 2025 its consistency increased by +2.6%, the largest increase of the last five years.

The study points out that, however, fleets from other countries growing faster and the fierce competition that the European maritime transport faces globally makes it international standards and a more efficient level playing field necessary than ever.

The document also underlines that the transport sector European maritime industry is at the forefront of the race for energy transition, with European shipowners who are investing significantly in ships powered by high-powered low and zero carbon emissions, which account for 44% of the orders of this type of vessel globally. Inside of orders placed by European shipowners, 38% of ships and 54% of the gross tonnage are designed to work with these sustainable fuels. The study finds that, however, this level of investment is not accompanied by adequate availability of sustainable fuels and Europe is lagging behind in the production of these fuels, with Asia being leader with 74% of fuel production projects while Europe accounts for only 10%.

The paper highlights that maritime transport contributes to the with nine billion euros per year to the revenues of the ETS emissions trading and notes that investing these funds in the production of clean fuels for the maritime transport is not only fundamental for the energy transition, but also a question of security energy efficiency.

Reiterating that, in order to remain globally competitive, the European shipping sector needs a level playing field at international level, ECSA Secretary General, Sotiris Raptis, referring to transport emission standards noted that, once a regulatory framework had been agreed at the International Maritime Organization, "we will have to withdraw the current regional measures. As long as the sector will be subject to EU climate legislation - said - it is essential to invest the nine billion paid by shipping companies to the EU ETS for support the production and availability of fuels for maritime transport in Europe".