GreenMED: Green Shipping Pathways Towards a Clean Energy Transition in the Mediterranean

In the busy ports and sea lanes of the Mediterranean, the impact of shipping on the environment is impossible to ignore. Ships burn large amounts of fuel, releasing emissions that contribute to climate change and pollute the air along the coastlines. This is a particular concern in the Mediterranean, where shipping is dense and the sea is semi-enclosed, trapping pollution near heavily populated shores.

To address this, the GreenMED project is helping chart a new path forward. Thanks to support from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), it is bringing partners from Greece, Spain, Cyprus, and Egypt to prepare the region’s shipping industry for the energy transition. 

At the heart of the project is a new observatory — the Mediterranean Sustainable Shipping Observatory, a decarbonisation hub for the Eastern and wider Mediterranean region. This is collecting data, building knowledge, and engaging stakeholders to support cleaner solutions in ports and at sea.

Why the Mediterranean can’t wait

The European Union aims to reach climate neutrality by 2050. To achieve this, all sectors need to reduce emissions — including maritime transport. Shipping has long been a difficult sector to decarbonise, but new policies and measures have been introduced, including adding shipping into the EU Emission Trade System, the Fuel EU Maritime and Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulations.

GreenMED helps the Mediterranean region align with these wider goals by focusing on regional needs, infrastructure, and opportunities.

This is not just about environmental targets. It is also about the future of coastal communities. Cleaner ports mean better air quality. New fuel and energy systems mean new skills and jobs. And investment in green infrastructure can support the wider economy while protecting marine ecosystems.

Building Tools for Real Change

In its first year, the project focused on building the foundation for long-term change. This included:

• Creating the first version of the Observatory’s knowledge base, with data on ships, fuel use, emissions, ports and energy supply.
• Analysing the energy demand from ships in the region, based on 30 million recorded vessel movements.
• Identifying green fuel options and energy-saving technologies that can be applied in the Mediterranean.
• Building a community of over 30 stakeholders across the region, from port authorities and shipping companies to researchers and energy providers.

Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute, which leads the Observatory’s development, explains:

“By fostering strong partnerships, we aim to drive innovation that answers industry needs while protecting the environment.”

Valencia Port Foundation, which contributes to the technical work, puts it simply:

“Our goal is to turn research into tools that port authorities, shipowners, and technology providers can use to take action.”

Looking ahead

The work of the project does not stop when the funding ends. The Observatory is designed to continue operating and growing beyond the project’s lifetime, helping the region prepare for the future.

The project is also cooperating with theZero-Emission Waterborne Transport Platform and the WestMED initiative, especially the “Shipbuilding Alternative Fuels Propulsion Systems Alliance”. GreenMED works closely with two more “sister” projects from the same call for proposals: Green Marine Med and POWER4MED.

Challenges remain, especially in bringing in more partners from the southern Mediterranean and ensuring data remains available in the future. But the GreenMED team is aware of these obstacles and working to overcome them.

With the support of the European Union and the commitment of its partners, GreenMED is helping Mediterranean shipping set sail towards a cleaner future.