A new Interreg project has begun that will introduce hybrid propulsion on ships in the Italian and Croatian Adriatic fleets. This will implement the strategy of the European Green Plan — a pact that aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
The project will run for 30 months and will be implemented in three phases based on the three key elements of the 3EFISHING project: Technology, Environment and Economy. The first phase of the project will work on the development and production of special hybrid drives that use renewable energy sources. This will help to reduce fuel costs and significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions, thereby contributing to the environmental sustainability of the fishing fleet.
In the second phase, the engines will be installed on two vessels to confirm their operational efficiency. At the end of the project, the vessels will be presented to the market (small and medium-sized enterprises from the fishing and aquaculture sector). In this phase, the results of the research carried out will also be disseminated in order to provide fishermen with specific information on financial and investment techniques that would improve the economic conditions of the sector and allow the implementation of “3EFISHING” vessels in the fleets.
Ten project partners are involved in the project. Two research and development institutes, the University of Bologna and the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, which will bring innovation to the key sectors of aquaculture and fisheries through the development of low-carbon solutions. The work of the institute is supported by two ministries: the Ministry of Agriculture (Croatia) and the Institute for Agricultural and Food Market Services (Italy).
Three regional institutions are also involved in the project: the Marche Agriculture Fisheries Innovation Agency, the Mediterranean Agricultural Institute in Bari and Zadar County, which will have the task of involving stakeholders in the sector. Cromaris, the most important Croatian company in the field of mariculture, will participate in the innovative processes and tests that will be carried out as part of the project. Project partners: The Emiglia-Romagnia Region and Cestha (Experimental Center for Habitat Protection in Marina Ravena), which are involved in programs for the conservation of endangered species and the promotion of sustainable management of the sea and coast, will be responsible for disseminating the project results.
