European Maritime Space and Inland ports (AFIF) - works

Di cosa tratta questo bando?

The topic co-finances works for onshore power and charging in TEN-T ports and for fitting or retrofitting ferries, short sea vessels and inland waterway vessels with cleaner energy systems. Public and private legal entities in EU Member States and CEF-associated countries can apply, without a consortium.

Cosa finanzia questo bando?

Scope

The topic funds works that modernise maritime transport infrastructure on the TEN-T network and reduce the environmental impact of transport through efficient short sea shipping links and the greening of inland shipping. It is part of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Transport general envelope for sustainable and multimodal mobility, and only works projects are covered.

Eligible activities

• Deploying onshore power supply and charging infrastructure in TEN-T maritime and inland ports in line with Regulation (EU) 2023/1804. This may include onshore power supply and shore-side battery charging systems for seagoing freight and passenger vessels and for inland waterway vessels, and any port electrical grid upgrade they need.
• Fitting or retrofitting the energy systems of inland waterway vessels and short sea shipping vessels, including ferries, with electric, hybrid, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol or biomethane technologies, substitute energy sources, or wind-assisted propulsion systems.

Synergetic elements

Port projects may include on-site renewable generation such as solar or wind, grid connection from the port to the outside grid, and shore-side batteries. These must mainly serve the onshore power and charging systems, must improve the socio-economic, climate or environmental benefits of the project, and may not exceed 20% of total eligible costs.

Vessel conditions

Supported vessels are maritime ferries of at least 2000 GT on regular fixed routes involving a TEN-T core or comprehensive port, short sea shipping vessels of at least 2000 GT calling at such a port, and inland waterway vessels on the TEN-T inland waterway network that are longer than 20 metres with capacity for more than 12 passengers. Support covers only the fitting or retrofitting of energy systems and must be backed by a clear cost breakdown per component. Newbuilds may be fitted with electric, hybrid, hydrogen, ammonia or methanol technologies, and existing vessels retrofitted with those or biomethane. Hybrid electric vessels must have shore-side charging and battery capacity for at least 10 nautical miles. The fitting contract must be signed after the call publication date and no later than 31 December 2027. Vessels must fly an EU flag and serve at least one TEN-T maritime or inland port for at least five years after the project ends. Day-trip tourism vessels, recreational craft, tugboats, icebreakers and cruise vessels are not supported.

Requirements and ineligible costs

Applicants should explain how the project contributes to EU manufacturing capacity and made-in-EU technologies, in line with the EU Industrial Maritime Strategy, and state the fuelling and recharging capacity available at ports served by the vessels. Infrastructure must be accessible to all operators on a non-discriminatory basis. Ineligible costs include land acquisition, leasing, procurement and permits, grid equipment owned by network operators, travel and indirect costs, staff costs, studies, design, supervision, communication and project management, operating expenditure and upgrades of existing charging infrastructure.

Quando scade il bando?

6 ottobre 2026

6 October 2026, 17:00:00 CET (Brussels). Proposals are submitted electronically through the Funding and Tenders Portal. The indicative timetable foresees evaluation from October 2026 to March 2027, results in April 2027 and grant agreement signature in May or June 2027.