Sustainable maritime transport: Technologies for eco-friendly shipping to support coastal communities

ELECTRIC BLUE focuses on the demonstration of advanced battery energy storage systems and ship design concepts for existing vessels through retrofitting. Our ambition is to pave the way towards full electrification in maritime transport.A full-scale demonstration on the retrofitted RoPax ferry, Finnsirius or Finncanopus, already equipped with a 5 MWh battery system, aims for a 40% increase in electric-only operating range, achieving at least 120 nautical miles with batteries as the primary power source for propulsion. This is achieved through next-generation onboard battery energy storage systems, and high-capacity shore-side charging systems for rapid battery replenishment. Further innovations include advanced onboard energy efficiency, AI-driven Energy Management System, and digital tools for ship modelling to validate the extended range.ELECTRIC BLUE unites industrial, research, and regulatory experts across the vessel electrification value chain. Key participants span Shipping companies (Finnlines, CSM), ship design (RMC), battery systems (Corvus), power solutions (Polarvolt, Wärtsilä), and port authorities (Naantali, Stockholm) as well as classification society (Lloyd’s Register EMEA). Research (VTT, AAU, TalTech, UPRC) contributes digital modelling, techno-economic analysis, and business models, supporting replication studies for diverse vessel types. This ensures outputs are technically robust, economically viable, and widely scalable across Europe.The project's impact enhances EU maritime leadership, accelerating the transition to a climate-neutral society. It will deliver guidelines for retrofitting advanced battery systems and fire safety solutions, addressing regulatory gaps for safe, compliant adoption. Training promotes new green job opportunities for maritime personnel. Through demonstration, replication, and business modelling, ELECTRIC BLUE targets widespread deployment, ensuring a rapid, socially accepted shift to battery-electric shipping in Europe.