Estonia Launches €25m Grant to Green Maritime Industry

Estonia has taken a significant step towards greening its maritime industry by introducing a €25m ($28.3m) government grant aimed at promoting the reconstruction and environmental sustainability of ships operating in Estonian ports.

This initiative positions Estonia as a pioneer in Europe for providing direct financial support through state aid for ship retrofitting projects.

The newly launched grant, led by Estonia’s minister of infrastructure, Kuldar Leis, offers subsidies ranging from 15% to 30% of eligible retrofit costs, with a cap of €5m per project. To qualify for the highest support rate of 30%, vessels must undergo conversion into zero-emission ships. Additional factors such as the vessel’s flag state and its frequency of port visits also influence the level of financial assistance.

Minister Leis emphasized the increasing global demand for cleaner maritime transport and highlighted Estonia’s marine industry’s expertise in delivering top-notch retrofit services to help shipowners enhance the environmental friendliness of their fleets. He stated, “From design and technical consulting to implementation and maintenance, Estonian ports serve as convenient and efficient hubs for retrofit projects.”