Portside shipping and financial entities, alongside the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem, joined a multinational initiative spanning six countries. The project, Green Sea Med, aims to promote sustainable maritime development through advanced technological solutions in the Mediterranean. Headquartered with the World Ocean Council (WOC) in Barcelona and the Marine Technologies Center (CTN) in Murcia, the program is led from these hubs and supported by funding from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and the European Commission.
Sea transport represents a dominant share of global trade, accounting for roughly 80% of movement by sea. The sector faces an urgent need to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The Technology and Maritime Center notes that port operations alone contribute a significant portion of these emissions, underscoring the importance of cross-sector action. In response, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has urged fast, system-wide decarbonization of shipping to address rising emissions. The latest data from Transport & Environment indicates that CO2 levels in Europe surpassed pre-pandemic levels in recent years, highlighting the urgency of concerted action.
By September 2025
Decarbonization must cover all vessel categories, including commercial fleets, cruise ships, fishing boats, and yachts. Achieving sustainable shipping requires the entire supply chain, maritime logistics, and the supporting infrastructure, all built on close collaboration among multiple actors across ports, industries, and governments.
The new network brings together 17 actors across the full value chain from Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Türkiye, and Israel. A variety of initiatives will be rolled out by September 2025. Ongoing regional challenges, including the Gaza conflict, can complicate participation from some organizations in northern African ports, yet the Mediterranean ports remain pivotal to decarbonizing shipping in the region.
Transport Observatory
This year features a schedule of meetings across Spain, Italy, Israel, and Turkey. An international call will accelerate involvement from startups, SMEs, and entrepreneurs with projects that advance innovation in ports and shipping. The project maps key players in green maritime transport across Mediterranean states and will appoint representatives in each sector. One notable milestone is the establishment of the Mediterranean Green Maritime Transport Observatory, with Lisa Simone, WOC European Affairs advisor and initiative coordinator, explaining the framework and goals in detail.
Effective economy
The sustainable shipping initiative is seen as a sector with immense potential. Leaders emphasize the opportunity to combine economic growth with environmental stewardship. Figures like Anna Majó, innovation director at Barcelona Active and a member of Green Med, will contribute experience supporting new ventures and continuing work in entrepreneurship programs such as B-Blue. Majó also highlights the importance of network members in driving practical outcomes.
Barcelona’s Port is already engaged in the effort, alongside institutions including the European Intermodal Transport School (EEIT), which focuses on education in intermodal transport and sustainable logistics. Other involved entities include Sustainable Invests, the Balearic Islands Maritime and Logistics Cluster (CMIB), Barcelona Active, and a European alliance of nine technology universities coordinated by the Polytechnic University of Cartagena. The International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE) operates within UPC in Barcelona, and SHIP2B is dedicated to advancing a just, eco-friendly economy with social impact.