The conversion of the Marmara Sea ferry fleet to electric and hybrid ships can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 63%. This information comes from a new study commissioned by the GreenVoyage2050 IMO program and in collaboration with the Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.
Fleet Details and Capacities
This study evaluated 67 Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax ships that transport vehicles and passengers at 26 ports. The fleet in question transports approximately 25 million passengers and 7 million vehicles annually. By implementing these changes, alongside a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, health and environmental costs equivalent to €492 million will also be saved.
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Potential for Pollution Reduction and New Jobs
Research indicates that the use of hybrid and electric propulsion systems in all operations of Ro-Pax and Ro-Ro ships in the Marmara Sea is technically feasible. In an optimal scenario that combines these two types of ships, it is expected that annual greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 63% by 2050 compared to the current situation based on diesel fuel. Furthermore, if the entire fleet is converted to fully electric operations, this reduction could reach 84%, and if the decarbonization of Turkey's electricity grid achieves net zero by 2053, this figure could even rise to 95%.
Challenges and Solutions
While no major technical barriers to electrifying the fleet have been identified, the main challenges include charging infrastructure, initial investment, coordinated energy planning, and domestic legal frameworks. To achieve these goals, a coordinated approach among the government, municipalities, ports, ferry operators, and the energy sector is necessary.
Priority actions include expanding charging infrastructure at shores and high-voltage electricity grid connections at ports, providing low-carbon power sources at ports, and introducing targeted financial incentives. Additionally, transport and energy planning should be integrated with the goal of electrifying the fleet, and environmental criteria should be considered in public ferry procurement.
Pilot Projects and the Electric Future
The Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the GreenVoyage2050 program are planning to launch an electric pilot project in the Marmara Sea to showcase the technical, environmental, and commercial benefits identified in this study. These projects could help create around 1,100 new jobs annually by 2050, most of which will be concentrated in Turkish shipbuilding workshops.
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