Ferries in Europe emit more CO2 than 6.6 million cars and are responsible for more air pollution than all the cars in major cities like Barcelona, Dublin or Naples
• CO2 emissions from ferries in Europe’s ports equivalent to 6.6 million cars
• Dublin (IE) is the most polluted ferry port in 2025, but changes in emissions regulations will see Las Palmas (ES) in top spot in 2027
• Travemünde (DE) - Helsinki (FI) route is the highest-emitting route in Europe, ahead of Dover (UK) - Calais (FR)
• Barcelona is the highest CO2 emitting ferry port in Europe
• More than half of Europe’s ferries could be electric and cheaper to run by 2035
• The average European ferry is 26 years old, meaning the fleet is ripe for renewal
Ferries in port cities like Barcelona, Dublin and Naples are responsible for more toxic air pollution (SOx) than all the cars in those cities, a new study by T&E shows. Promisingly, 60% of Europe’s ferries could be electric by 2035, and over half (52%) would be cheaper to operate than fossil-fuelled vessels, the report shows. With the average age of ferries in Europe at 26 years, now is the time for a clean renewal, says T&E.
Ferries play a vital role in connecting Europe’s islands with the mainland, yet many are old and polluting, making them bad for the climate and the health of people living near ports. In 2023 alone, the 1043 European ferries analysed by T&E, many of which are small, emitted 13.4 million tonnes of CO₂ - the equivalent of 6.6 million cars over a year. Barcelona is the European port responsible for the highest ferry CO2 emissions. (....)