Europe is being urged to build 1,000 new shallow-water vessels as part of efforts to strengthen its maritime capabilities, modernise its short-sea fleet and support the resilience of regional supply chains.
The proposed fleet would focus on vessels designed to operate in coastal waters, rivers and other areas where conventional deep-sea ships cannot operate efficiently. Such ships play an important role in moving cargo between European ports and inland markets.
A larger fleet of shallow-water vessels could improve connectivity between smaller ports and major maritime hubs while supporting the movement of industrial goods, agricultural products and other cargo. It could also provide an alternative to road transportation for certain regional freight movements.
The push comes amid growing concerns over Europe’s dependence on external shipping capacity and shipbuilding supply chains. Expanding domestic vessel construction could strengthen the region’s maritime industrial base and create demand for European shipyards , equipment manufacturers and maritime technology providers.
New vessels could also be designed around modern environmental standards. Energy-efficient propulsion systems, alternative fuels and other emissions-reduction technologies could help Europe reduce the environmental impact of short-sea shipping while meeting increasingly stringent maritime regulations.
The development of 1,000 vessels would represent a significant investment and would likely require cooperation between governments, shipowners, ports, shipyards and financial institutions. Funding mechanisms and long-term cargo commitments could be important in making such a large-scale fleet renewal programme commercially viable.
For European ports, additional shallow-water capacity could improve the integration of maritime transport with inland logistics networks. Greater use of coastal and inland waterways could also help reduce pressure on congested roads and provide more diversified transportation options.
The proposal highlights the strategic importance of short-sea and inland shipping to Europe’s transport system. If implemented, the programme could support fleet renewal, strengthen European shipbuilding and improve the resilience of regional cargo networks over the long term.