The International Maritime Organization has opened applications for technical assistance for feasibility studies backing pilot projects to cut greenhouse gas emissions from passenger ships, including ferries and Ro-Pax vessels, according to the IMO.
The call is part of the GreenVoyage2050 Accelerator and supports the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy, which targets net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by or around 2050 and the uptake of zero- or near-zero emission technologies, fuels and energy sources by 2030.
The assistance will cover technical and economic assessments of zero- or near-zero emission technologies, fuels and energy solutions. IMO said the aim is to help countries develop investment-ready pilot projects by strengthening the evidence base and reducing uncertainty before implementation.
Member States eligible for Official Development Assistance can submit expressions of interest under Circular Letter No. 5160. The deadline is 29 May 2026, with support to be delivered from July 2026 to December 2027.
An official from Türkiye’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure said an earlier GreenVoyage2050-backed feasibility study on ferry electrification in the Sea of Marmara helped assess technical and economic options, reduce uncertainty and develop a project ready for implementation and investment.
The International Maritime Organization is a United Nations specialized agency responsible for the global regulatory framework for international shipping.
GreenVoyage2050 is IMO’s technical cooperation programme for developing countries, focused on policy work, technical assistance, capacity-building and pilot initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. Its second phase runs from 2024 to 2030 and is funded by Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway.
