Leaked Commission draft reframes maritime policy around industry, security and ETS revenue use

A leaked draft European Commission industrial maritime strategy shows the Commission placing greater emphasis on shipbuilding, ship repair and ports within the EU’s broader industrial and security policy framework, while highlighting emissions trading revenues and fuel infrastructure as key elements of future maritime investment.

The draft describes shipbuilding and ship repair as capacities of strategic importance to the Union. It links civilian shipyard activity to naval production, dual-use vessels, military mobility and the protection of offshore and subsea infrastructure. The document states that sufficient domestic shipyard capacity is relevant for crisis preparedness and resilience, and refers to closer coordination between maritime, industrial and defence-related policies.

The use of revenues from the inclusion of maritime transport in the EU emissions trading system is addressed directly. The draft refers to projected ETS receipts from shipping of around €10 billion per year by 2030 and states that member states should direct a significant share of this income towards fleet renewal, alternative fuel deployment and port infrastructure. The text does not introduce binding obligations, but frames revenue use as an element of the sector’s transition.

On fuels, the draft refers to the development of an integrated EU market for renewable and low-carbon gases and stresses the importance of cross-border trade, and specifically references biomethane in this context. It cautions against national measures that could fragment the internal market for such fuels. The document does not specify individual fuel quotas and does not set binding targets or performance requirements in this area.

The strategy also refers to demand-side measures. It notes the potential use of coordinated public procurement for certain vessel categories, including ferries, icebreakers and research vessels, and indicates that procurement criteria may take into account considerations beyond price, such as security and resilience. It also refers to possible reviews of import duties and the use of trade defence instruments, without detailing specific actions.

The draft indicates that implementation would rely on existing EU funding programmes and member state action. It does not set out dedicated funding envelopes or legislative proposals, and several elements are framed as guidance or coordination measures rather than obligations.

The document is marked as incomplete, with several sections subject to further inter-service consultation. Its publication timeline is not specified, but a final draft is anticipated before the end of Q1 2026.

Leaked EU ports strategy expands security and energy role without new binding powers

A leaked draft European Commission communication on a future EU Ports Strategy places greater emphasis on ports’ role in security, energy infrastructure and coordination across EU policy areas, while stopping short of proposing new binding obligations on member states.

The draft presents ports as important nodes for trade, energy supply, military mobility and industrial activity. It links port policy to broader EU objectives on economic security, offshore energy deployment and the protection of critical infrastructure, including subsea cables and pipelines.

Security considerations feature prominently. The draft refers to the screening of foreign investment in ports and port services, cybersecurity requirements and the need to address hybrid threats, including organised crime. It calls for improved coordination between port authorities, customs and security services, increased information sharing and closer alignment with existing and forthcoming EU rules on cybersecurity and investment screening. The document does not propose port-specific legislation.

On energy and climate policy, the strategy refers to ports’ role in electrification, alternative fuel infrastructure and renewable energy integration. It highlights shore-side electricity, grid upgrades and fuel infrastructure, and refers to alignment with TEN-T and TEN-E planning. The draft acknowledges challenges linked to permitting, grid connection and space constraints, and points to guidance and coordination measures rather than regulatory requirements.

The draft also addresses digitalisation. It refers to common data standards, interoperability between port and logistics systems and cybersecurity for port-related digital infrastructure, including customs and vessel traffic systems. These elements are framed within existing EU digital and transport frameworks.

References to funding focus on improved coordination and use of existing EU instruments, including cohesion policy, the Connecting Europe Facility, InvestEU and future EU budget tools. The draft does not propose dedicated funding allocations for ports and emphasises member state responsibility for implementation.

The document is marked as incomplete, with several sections subject to further inter-service consultation. Its publication timeline is not specified, but a final draft is anticipated before the end of Q1 2026.

Dual fuel fleet doubles in a year as liner shipping investment accelerates

The liner shipping industry has more than doubled the number of dual-fuel container ships and vehicle carriers in service within a year, signalling accelerating capital deployment ahead of tighter climate obligations.

Data published by the World Shipping Council shows that 400 dual-fuel container ships and vehicle carriers were operating as of December 2025, up from 218 a year earlier. The increase reflects a sharp rise in vessel deliveries from an expanding orderbook.

The pipeline remains substantial. A further 726 dual-fuel container ships and vehicle carriers are on order, lifting the total number of delivered or contracted vessels to 1,126, a year-on-year increase of 28 per cent. The Council estimates cumulative investment at more than $150 billion.

Dual fuel capability now dominates new contracting in these segments. Across the combined container ship and vehicle carrier orderbook, 74 percent of vessels by deadweight tonnage are dual fuel. The share rises to 87 percent for vehicle carriers. In container shipping, 78 per cent of orders by TEU capacity are dual fuel, indicating that most future trade capacity growth will be tied to fuel-flexible tonnage.

Orders are concentrated around methanol and methane-capable designs. While these ships are expected to operate initially on conventional fuels, they are engineered to switch to renewable and near zero carbon alternatives as supply becomes available at scale.

With several hundred vessels already in operation, the Council concludes that dual fuel capability has moved beyond pilot deployment and is becoming a structural feature of the global container and vehicle carrier fleet, with implications for port infrastructure, fuel supply planning and regulatory implementation.

UK brings London Northwestern and West Midlands rail services into public ownership under GBR reform

Passenger rail services operated by London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway returned to public ownership on the 1st of February 2026, marking another step in the UK government’s restructuring of the rail sector ahead of the creation of Great British Railways.

The transfer brings the full West Midlands Trains operation into public hands following the expiry of its operating arrangements. London Northwestern Railway runs intercity and regional services along the West Coast Main Line between London Euston, Birmingham and Liverpool, while West Midlands Railway provides regional services across the West Midlands centred on Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Snow Hill.

With the change, publicly owned operators now account for more than half of all passenger journeys that Great British Railways is expected to oversee once fully established. More than 8,500 passenger services are now operated daily by public sector companies, covering an estimated 660 million journeys annually.

The move has been implemented under the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024, which prohibits new rail franchises and restricts extensions of existing ones, instead requiring passenger services to be provided through direct public service contracts awarded to public sector companies. The legislation amends the Railways Act 1993 and establishes public ownership as the default operating model for passenger rail services.

The Department for Transport said the change supports the government’s objective of simplifying rail governance and improving coordination between track and train, with Great British Railways set to assume responsibility for operational oversight, revenue and cost management across the network. The transition coincides with the government’s decision to freeze regulated rail fares.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said the transfer would help address fragmentation in the rail system and improve reliability and accountability for passengers.

London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway are the fourth operators to enter public ownership since the Act came into force, as the government continues to unwind the franchising model in advance of Great British Railways becoming fully operational.

EIB steps up Western Balkans rail and energy financing with €822m in 2025

The European Investment Bank committed €822 million in loans, guarantees and grants across the Western Balkans in 2025, with the bulk of financing directed towards transport connectivity and energy infrastructure aligned with the EU’s TEN-T expansion and decarbonisation objectives.

Sustainable transport accounted for 58% of total commitments, reflecting the Bank’s role as a key financier of rail and road upgrades on the extended TEN-T Core Network. Flagship rail projects included financing for Albania’s Durrës–Rrogozhina line, Serbia’s Niš–Dimitrovgrad corridor and Montenegro’s Bar–Golubovci section, together supported by significant EU grants through the Western Balkans Investment Framework. The projects are intended to increase capacity, raise speeds, improve safety and strengthen cross-border connectivity between the Western Balkans and the EU internal market.

In Montenegro, the €175 million package for the Bar–Golubovci railway, combining EIB loans and EU grants, targets a key link between the Port of Bar and Central Europe along Rail Route 4 of the extended TEN-T Core Network. In Serbia, the Niš–Dimitrovgrad project, part of Corridor X, aims to modernise, electrify and signal the line linking Serbia and Bulgaria, while relieving bottlenecks around Niš and integrating the route more closely into the EU rail network. In Albania, the Durrës–Rrogozhina upgrade supports the modernisation of a strategic east–west connection linking the Adriatic coast to inland corridors.

Road and multimodal investments complemented the rail programme. A €150 million EIB loan will modernise 540 kilometres of regional roads in Serbia, with a focus on safety and climate resilience. Inland waterway upgrades in Serbia, backed by EIB financing, are improving Danube navigability, facilitating freight transport and strengthening regional trade links.

Energy security and diversification formed the second major pillar of EIB activity in 2025. Renewable energy accounted for 13% of total commitments, including a €103 million loan for the 132 megawatt Poklečani wind farm in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Once operational, the project is expected to generate 437 gigawatt hours of electricity annually and significantly reduce carbon emissions, contributing to the region’s decarbonisation and energy independence. The investment complements other EIB backed wind, solar and hydropower rehabilitation projects across the Western Balkans, as well as planned electricity grid extensions aimed at improving system reliability and market integration.

Overall, the €822 million committed in 2025 is expected to mobilise close to €1.5 billion in total investment. According to the Bank, 58% of its support will contribute directly to climate action and environmental sustainability, in line with its broader objective of supporting the green transition and EU accession related reforms in the Western Balkans.

The EIB said it plans to intensify support for cross-border transport and energy projects in the coming year, as implementation of the extended TEN-T network and regional energy integration gathers pace.