Dutch inland shipping operators wishing to adopt sustainable practices will be able to apply for a government subsidy after the summer. The subsidy can be used to retrofit a vessel so that it can run on (hybrid) electric power, hydrogen or methanol, or to incorporate these features into the construction of a new vessel.
The online consultation on the scheme began on 22 April, giving stakeholders six weeks to submit their views.
The Ministry of Infrastructure is organising several subsidy rounds between 2026 and 2030, for which a total of approximately EUR 230 million is available. In the first round, which will open in the third or fourth quarter of the year, approximately EUR 39 million is available.
Also read: ‘Save small inland shipping through new ships and electrification’
From electric to hydrogen and methanol
Shipowners can choose from various forms of sustainability measures. For example, there is the option of electric propulsion, powered by batteries or a hydrogen fuel cell. Another possibility is a combustion engine that runs on hydrogen or methanol. For the conversion of a small vessel, it is possible to opt for hybrid-electric.
The maximum subsidy per project ranges from EUR 500,000 to EUR 3 million, depending on the type of sustainability measure chosen.
Also read: ITG, ZES and Nedcargo launch emission-free inland shipping
150-160 vessels
It is expected that the subsidy will help to make 150 to 160 vessels more sustainable by 2032. Preparations for the scheme have been underway for some time, but the subsidies are particularly important in light of the current energy crisis. It helps inland waterway operators to become less dependent on fossil fuels from abroad.
Also read: River Academy, STC strengthen inland shipping education
