A project meeting of 3EFISHING was held with the participation of all Croatian and Italian partners. The project is part of the Interreg Italy–Croatia 2021–2027 programme, runs for 30 months, and is coordinated by the University of Bologna.
In the first phase, engineering design and the development of special hybrid propulsion systems using renewable energy sources were completed. This lays the foundation for reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions while increasing the environmental sustainability of the fishing and aquaculture fleet in the Adriatic. The next step is the second phase, involving the selection and installation of engines on pilot vessels, followed by the third phase, which includes testing and presenting the solutions to the market along with accompanying financial and investment models for small and medium-sized enterprises.
One of the conclusions of the meeting is that CROMARIS will install hybrid electric engines on one of its catamarans. After installation, the project team from the Institute together with CROMARIS will carry out vessel testing with the new propulsion system in both experimental and real conditions, aiming to document reductions in fuel consumption, emissions, and noise, as well as to assess cost-effectiveness for the sector. The results will serve for broader technological application within the fleet and the transfer of knowledge to fishers and aquaculture companies.
