The maritime transport sector is responsible for more than 75% of the European Union’s external trade and is projected to grow in global shipping volume. A landmark study by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) shows that ships produce 13.5% of all greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) caused by transportation in the EU. Other significant impacts of the sector include the doubling of the underwater noise levels in EU waters between 2014 -2019 and the introduction of half of all the non-indigenous species introduced into European seas since 1949[1].

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