Green shipping corridors (GSC) – zero-emission maritime routes connecting ports across borders – have emerged as a promising mechanism to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels in shipping. However, there are significant practical barriers, including high costs, limited availability of alternative fuels and bunkering infrastructure, lack of operational experience with new technologies, and insufficient policy instruments tailored to corridor-level implementation. Addressing these challenges requires transnational collaboration that brings together ports, shipping operators, fuel suppliers, cargo owners, financiers, and policymakers across multiple countries and sectors.

To advance this work, Baltic Ports Organization has partnered with IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute and the Port of Klaipėda to launch Baltic Sea Green Shipping Corridors (BalticSea-GSC) – a seed funding project under the Swedish Institute Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Programme, running from October 2025 through September 2026. The project, explicitly positioned as a stepping stone toward a larger transnational initiative, maps stakeholder needs, financial and regulatory instruments supporting GSCs at the EU and national levels in Sweden, Estonia, and Lithuania. It evaluates which shipping segments, fuel types, and routes to target, and also expands the partnership through targeted stakeholder engagement.

The project strongly aligns with key policy frameworks, including the EUSBSR PA Ship objective of making the Baltic Sea a model region for sustainable shipping, the EU Mission on Oceans and Waters (carbon-neutral blue economy), EU Green Deal regulations (FuelEU Maritime, EU ETS, Fit for 55, Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive), and the Clydebank Declaration commitment to establish green shipping corridors globally. The project has been registered as an umbrella project under the EUSBSR Policy Area Transport, providing enhanced visibility and access to regional decision-maker networks. According to Sami Vesterinen, Advisor for EUSBSR PA Ship and the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, projects such as BalticSea-GSC play an important role in advancing green corridor development: “The participation of PA Ship in an advisory function ensures that project results are communicated to policymakers. Our ultimate goal is for the Baltic Sea to become one large green shipping corridor.”

By the end of last year (December 3-4), we conducted a successful two-day kick-off meeting in Stockholm hosted by IVL, bringing together project partners, Reference Group members from Swedish and Finnish transport authorities, Estonian Climate Ministry and industry leaders, including Wasaline – operator of the Aurora Bothnia, one of Europe’s most advanced hybrid ferries. “The purpose of the meeting was to begin the project with a broad dialogue, bringing together perspectives from both public and private actors to guide implementation and establish a strong foundation for the work ahead,” stated Ignė Stalmokaitė, project leader in business development and commercialisation group at IVL and project leader for Baltic Sea Green Shipping Corridors. The meeting established a shared vision, validated our work plan, and initiated dialogue on potential corridor routes for further assessment.

To engage the broader maritime community, the project will be presented at Transport Week in Gdynia, Poland (March 18-19) – we look forward to connecting with interested stakeholders there. Bogdan Ołdakowski, Baltic Port Organization’s Secretary General underscores the collaborative nature of the effort: “The transition to zero-emission shipping is accelerating, and Baltic ports need to be ready. This project ensures we’re proactively shaping the infrastructure and partnerships that will define green maritime transport in our region.”

Core Project Partners:

• IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute (Sweden) – Lead partner; project management, concept development, needs analysis
• Baltic Ports Organization (Estonia-registered) – External communication, stakeholder engagement, partnership development
• Klaipėda State Seaport Authority (Lithuania) – Needs analysis, port operations expertise, regulatory and financial instrument mapping

The project is supported by a Reference Group of government agencies:

• Estonian Ministry of Climate – EUSBSR PA Transport coordinator
• Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) – National coordinator for domestic and short-sea shipping
• Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) – EUSBSR PA Ship coordinator

GET INVOLVED

We welcome engagement from:

• Ports exploring green corridor development
• Shipping companies evaluating alternative fuel transitions
• Cargo owners committed to Scope 3 emission reductions
• Fuel suppliers and infrastructure developers active in the Baltic Sea region
• Research institutions and consultancies specialising in maritime decarbonization.

To learn more or express interest in joining the broader follow-up initiative, please contact Ignė Stalmokaitė, Project Manager (IVL), at igne.stalmokaite@ivl.se

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