Innovative Solutions for mitigating the environmental impact of waterborne transport in marine and aquatic Ecosystems (ZEWT Partnership)

This Destination addresses activities that improve the climate and environmental footprint, as well as competitiveness, of different transport modes.

The areas of rail and air traffic management will be addressed through dedicated Institutional European Partnerships and are therefore not included in this document.

This Destination contributes directly to the Strategic Plan’s Key Strategic Orientations ‘Green transition’, ‘Digital transition’ and ‘A more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe’.

In line with the Strategic Plan, the overall expected impact of this Destination is to contribute to the ‘Achieving sustainable and competitive transport modes’.

The main impacts to be generated by topics under this Destination are:

Zero-emission road transport

1. Accelerated uptake of a zero-tailpipe emission ecosystem, with interoperable technological solutions developed at system level (vehicles, infrastructure, user and energy grid) that support the global competitiveness of the EU transport and mobility system.
2. Zero-tailpipe emission mobility solutions developed that are affordable, efficient, user-friendly, inclusive, safe and circular with concepts and technologies that are easy to deploy, considering needs, behaviours and socio-economic conditions of all end-users.
3. Clean mobility solutions for a climate neutral and environmentally friendly and zero pollution mobility with a higher level of circularity;
4. Increased responsiveness of zero tailpipe emission vehicles and systems to diverse societal interests and concerns.

Aviation

1. Enable breakthrough technologies and innovations that will contribute to the design (addressing also eco-design and circularity principles), manufacturing, maintenance and operations of new generation aircrafts, also powered by renewable energy and sustainable aviation fuels, for a competitive and clean EU aviation ecosystem (including airports).
2. Derisk and accelerate the introduction of new digital technologies (with emphasis on AI) at all levels in the industrial aviation ecosystem, while addressing all safety-related issues in collaboration with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Waterborne transport

1. Higher autonomy range in electric and hybrid vessels.
2. Uptake of renewable and low carbon fuels and improved knowledge on the suitability of innovative renewable and low carbon fuels and other energy carriers for waterborne transport.
3. Support the objectives of the European Port Strategy and Waterborne Industrial Strategy, contributing the role of ports as energy hubs, improving efficiency and safety through digitalization, improving the resilience and security of the transport network, as well as increasing the competitiveness of the industrial and technology EU capabilities.
4. Significant reduction of emissions from large vessels due to the merging of energy efficiency and renewable and low carbon fuels.
5. Sustainability of waterborne transport by design, considering air and water pollution, circularity and life-cycle assessments in shipbuilding.
6. Improved safety of seafarers, port workers and the environment.

Transport-related environment and health

1. The better monitoring of the environmental performance and enforcement of emissions regulation and biodiversity protection in order to reduce the overall environmental impact of transport (e.g.: as regards biodiversity, noise, pollution and waste) on human health and ecosystems.

Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination. For additional information please see “Restrictions on the participation of legal entities established in China” found in General Annex B of the General Annexes.

Expected Outcome:

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes.

• Improved water resilience and good environmental and good ecological status in European waters and contribute to the achievement of the European Union's environmental targets, including the European Water Resilience Strategy and the European Ocean Pact. 
• A comprehensive understanding of the future environmental impacts of waterborne transport on marine and other aquatic ecosystems, addressing in particular pollution sources from: i) navigation on renewable low and zero-carbon fuels; and ii) accidental spills of renewable low and zero-carbon fuels for marine waters, inland waters and ports (water and air quality).
• Innovative prevention, abatement and mitigation systems and strategies for reducing and eliminating the harmful impacts of waterborne transport on waters.
• Enhanced pollution prevention and mitigation in marine waters, inland waterways and port areas, reducing the likelihood and impact of accidents involving renewable low and zero-carbon fuels.

Scope:

The European Union aims to protect and conserve its marine and freshwater environments by achieving Good Environmental and Good Ecological Status^[1]. The European Water Resilience Strategy and the European Ocean Pact further emphasize the need to enhance the resilience of European waters to human-induced pressures. Projects like the Horizon Europe EMERGE have researched the impacts of shipping on marine ecosystems. The introduction of technologies to decarbonize the sector may enable, to a certain extent, to phase-out relevant current sources of water and air pollution. However, renewable low and zero-carbon fuels and procedures pose new risks to marine and other aquatic ecosystems like rivers and lakes yet to be explored and addressed, both from the normal function of waterborne transport^[2] and from accidental spills of renewable low and zero-carbon fuels. In addition, other pollution sources can be addressed today^[3]. This topic aims to evaluate, forecast, control and mitigate the impact of waterborne transport on marine and other aquatic ecosystems, with a focus on developing and demonstrating innovative abatement and mitigation systems and strategies to mitigate and eliminate, where possible, the harmful impact of waterborne transport in the ocean and inland waters. New technologies and solutions addressing the decarbonization of waterborne transport will be considered, as well as the potential risks and challenges associated with these.

Actions should address all of the following aspects:

1. Evaluate and forecast the environmental impacts of waterborne transport operations on marine, rivers and other aquatic ecosystems, in particular regarding the effects of renewable low and zero-carbon fuels (with particular attention to accidental spills) and related technologies. The proposal may include testing and experimental work in relation with spills.
2. Develop and demonstrate effective response scenarios, including the associated abatement technologies and any potential new innovative equipment, for managing uncontrolled releases of renewable low and zero-carbon fuels in marine and inland waters or in port areas, including dedicated specific procedures and operational guidelines.
3. Modelling scenarios on water and air pollution sources from each ship types and services running on renewable low and zero carbon fuels.
4. Develop and demonstrate innovative and cost-effective abatement and mitigation systems and strategies to prevent, eliminate and reduce the harmful impacts of the use of renewable low and zero carbon fuels. Relevant TRL5 demonstration of such systems should be done.
5. Identifying training needs and skills requirements to deploy developed solutions, as well as in relation to the management and use of renewable low carbon fuels in ports and on vessels in marine and inland waters, including relevant emergency response preparedness.
6. Develop and demonstrate solutions that improve the resilience of European waters to climate change, pollution, and other human-induced pressures, and contribute to achieving Good Environmental Status and Good Ecological Status in European waters, as well as the objectives of the European Water Resilience Strategy and the European Ocean Pact.
7. Strengthen stakeholder engagement by involving environmental, industry and academic associations, to foster inclusive, future-focused environmental responsibility through sustainable practices.

This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on ‘Zero Emission Waterborne Transport’ (ZEWT). As such, projects resulting from this topic will be expected to report on results to the European Partnership ‘Zero Emission Waterborne Transport’ (ZEWT) in support of the monitoring of its KPIs.

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[1] As per the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Water Framework Directive

[2] e.g. new abatement systems, atmospheric deposition and impact of air pollution in waters, etc

[3] Notably antifouling coatings, discharges of hazardous substances from wastewater and spread of invasive species through hulls or ballast water