Yachting Art Magazine

At the Electric & Hybrid Marine World Expo, four major maritime industry associations announced the creation of the Global Alliance for Maritime Electrification (GAME). This new international coalition, led by non-profit organisations, aims to accelerate the transition to zero-emission maritime transport, focusing its initial efforts on commercial, river and coastal vessels.

The project brings together the International Electric Marine Association (IEMA), the Zero Emission Ship Technology Association (ZESTAs), the Maritime Battery Forum (MBF) and the European Onshore Power Supply Association (EOPSA). Together, these four organisations represent more than 250 organisations across all continents. Their common goal is to stimulate innovation, strengthen public policy and promote industrial cooperation around concrete electric solutions.

The initiative is taking shape in a context where climate pressure is becoming increasingly intense and maritime transport remains an under-regulated source of emissions. While media attention often focuses on large ships and commercial ports, it is in fact small and medium-sized vessels operating close to the coast that represent the immediate potential for energy transition.

‘We have a real opportunity to rapidly electrify ferries, passenger shuttles, service vessels and workboats,’ explains Adria Jover, President of IEMA. According to him, pooling efforts will enable the industry to speak with one voice at major industry events and avoid duplication of initiatives already underway.

GAME is based on three main areas:

• Sector representation, with joint participation by members in international events.
• Collaborative research, through the sharing of technical roadmaps, the development of common standards and the identification of funding for innovation projects.
• Policy advocacy, particularly with bodies such as the IMO, ISO and national regulators, to promote the harmonisation of standards and reassure investors.

‘Electrification is not a hypothesis, it is an immediately applicable solution,’ emphasises Roland Teixeira, President of EOPSA. He highlights the strategic role of shore-side electricity, which reduces emissions from ships at berth in ports.

The launch of GAME also comes at a time of regulatory fragmentation, lack of infrastructure and chronic underfunding of R&D projects. These are obstacles that the coalition members want to overcome through coordinated action.

‘Batteries are an essential lever for zero-emission propulsion, but they must be integrated into a broader technological ecosystem,’ says Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker, Director of the Maritime Battery Forum. He emphasises the need for a systemic approach to achieve the sector's energy transition.

The coalition plans, as a first step, to produce position papers on major technological trends and to strengthen its presence in several key geographical areas: North America, Europe, China, India and the South Pacific.

Madadh MacLaine, Secretary General of ZESTAs, sums up GAME's ambition in one sentence: "Electrification means zero greenhouse gases, zero pollution and minimal impact on ecosystems. "

With its mission to better structure initiatives in favour of electric shipping, GAME intends to act as a catalyst in the decarbonisation of a rapidly changing sector. For its founders, this is not a long-term project, but a reality to be implemented now.