210 million euros awarded from National Growth Fund to Maritime Master Plan
On 30 June, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management received 210 million euros from the National Growth Fund, of which 110 million euros conditional, for the implementation of the Maritime Master Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the energy transition in the maritime sector. “We are very pleased with this award,” said Rob Verkerk, chairman of the Nederland Maritiem Land foundation, the umbrella organization that devised the Maritime Master Plan together with its members with the great involvement of MINIenW, MINEZK and MINDEF. “Although we cannot implement the entire master plan with these funds, we can take a good step in accelerating the development,
The maritime sector is crucial to the prosperity, safety and energy needs of the Netherlands and includes ports, shipping, shipbuilding, fishing and hydraulic engineering. This gives it a total added value of 56.5 billion euros. But it is also fundamental for the infrastructure for transport, renewable energy production, (national) coastal protection and maritime safety. The maritime sector has a common denominator: ships. These are responsible for about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, including CO 2 . The Maritime Master Plan aims to drastically reduce these emissions.
The plan envisages the development, construction and commissioning of approximately 40 climate-neutral demonstration ships that will sail on the alternative fuels hydrogen and methanol or on LNG with carbon capture. These processes are supported by a digital platform on which data is shared and stored. The implementation of the Maritime Master Plan will additionally increase the potential and labor productivity of the maritime workforce thanks to the Human Capital Programme. “It is a pity that we cannot implement all elements of the master plan because the energy efficiency program line has unfortunately not been honoured. But that does not prevent us from starting the most important part of the plan now, namely the development of demonstration ships.” The ships will be used in coastal and inland shipping, hydraulic engineering, offshore wind and used for maritime safety. “In these end markets, the Netherlands is currently a leader in shipbuilding and operations. If we want to stay that way, we must ensure that we also become a leader in the energy transition in these markets,” Verkerk concludes. “For the energy efficiency program line, which is equally essential for a successful roll-out of the Maritime Master Plan, we will have to look for alternative financing.”
Marja van Bijsterveldt-Vliegenthart, special envoy on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate for making the maritime manufacturing industry future-proof adds: “Great news that the Maritime Master Plan can start! We are thus taking a major step towards making Dutch ships more sustainable. At the same time, we are strengthening our international leading position. For our country, a strong maritime sector is indispensable for the major social challenges of our time, such as military security, energy security and keeping our feet dry. The Maritime Master Plan is a solid foundation for the sector agenda that we will present in October.”
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