The European Investment Bank and French financial services business Société Générale have backed a €150m fund to support shipbuilding projects in France that promote sustainable transport and environmental protection.
It is the first time the new EU guarantee mechanism, the Investment Plan for Europe, has been applied to making maritime transport greener. EU transport commissioner Violeta Bulc said it would increase responsible investment in the maritime sector.
‘It will also improve the environmental performance of the “motorways of the sea,” an EU transport policy priority. The maritime sector must play its part in tackling climate change,’ she said.
The money will be used to finance improvements in the energy efficiency of new and existing ships, and cut emissions from maritime transport.