Inland Shipping and Ports Call for Ambitious Course for a Sustainable, Resilient, and Competitive Waterborne Future
21 May 2025
EU Industrial Maritime and Port Strategies: Contribution of the Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) and Ports sector
The European Union is embarking on a strategic transformation of its waterborne sector through the forthcoming EU Industrial Maritime Strategy and EU Port Strategy, reaffirming its commitment to climate neutrality, industrial resilience, and technological leadership.
The waterborne sector—spanning maritime and inland navigation—is a cornerstone of Europe’s economy and sustainability goals. It brings together a diverse ecosystem of shipowners, ports, infrastructure and service providers, shipbuilders, classification societies, equipment manufacturers, research institutions, and more. The sector has come together to give an in-depth contribution on the forthcoming strategies as their consultations open.
A Backbone of Europe’s Industrial and Environmental Vitality
Europe’s rivers, canals, seas, and ports are more than transit routes—they are lifelines for the continent’s industrial and ecological health. Nearly 50% of Europeans live near coastlines or major rivers, and major centres of production and consumption are concentrated along waterways. Inland waterway transport (IWT) enables the safe, efficient, and low-emission movement of key goods—steel, chemicals, agri-products, alternative fuels, oversized cargo, and more—relieving pressure on congested land networks. while offering increased opportunities for sustainable tourism and recreation. Disruptions to this network can ripple across downstream supply chains, impacting industry, water and food security alike. Inland ports, acting as multimodal hubs and industrial clusters, are expanding their role in the renewable energy eco-system and the circular economy.
Twin Transition at the Heart of Strategy
The EU Industrial Waterborne Strategy and EU Port Strategy are designed to accelerate the green and digital transition of the entire waterborne value chain and set a roadmap for innovation, investment, and resilience. As input to these strategies, the IWT and ports sector highlights its vision around a number of key areas, and calls for the following policy actions:
- Fostering innovation from early research to market deployment across the full value chain;
- Creating a pro-innovation regulatory framework that ensures legal certainty and unlocks private and public investment;
- Establishing a stable, accessible funding system tailored especially to the needs of SMEs.
Ports and Shipbuilding as Pillars of Sovereignty and Security
Ports are positioned as engines of industrial activity, green energy hubs, and logistical gateways that extend Europe’s trade network. They also play a critical role in security and military mobility, hosting infrastructure and assets essential to Europe’s strategic autonomy.
Shipyards and equipment manufacturers are recognized as vital for the EU’s capacity to build complex, high-tech vessels and equipment. Investments in these sectors will drive decarbonization, digitalization, and the broader sustainability and resilience agenda—while securing Europe’s leadership in maritime innovation.
Putting People at the Core
These strategies not only aim to transform industry—they also place people at the centre. Addressing labour and skills shortages, promoting workforce upskilling, and supporting quality employment are pivotal to delivering on the sector’s vision.
Building a Stronger Waterborne Ecosystem
Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) and Ports play a crucial role in achieving Europe’s climate neutrality, economic resilience and strategic autonomy and are a competitive and crucial component of the Clean Industrial Deal and the Waterborne ecosystem.
