Minister: No new approvals for combustion-powered boats soon
Shipping on Lake Constance is to become more climate-friendly according to politicians. "In order to achieve climate neutrality, new boats with conventional combustion engines will soon no longer be allowed on Lake Constance," announced Baden-Württemberg's Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Greens) on Friday on the occasion of the first climate dialog on Lake Constance shipping on the island of Mainau. Hermann did not specify a time frame for this. The dialog was intended to provide space for an initial major exchange on the topic of climate-neutral shipping on Lake Constance.
The first steps are already being taken to make shipping on Lake Constance more environmentally friendly. For example, a ferry powered by a gas engine has been operating between Meersburg and Constance for a few weeks now. In future, the car ferry is to be filled with biomethane, making it largely climate-neutral.
The first e-passenger ship has been in operation off the island of Mainau since July 2022. The "MS Insel Mainau" will not remain the only ship with an electric drive. The aim is to convert the fleet by 2035, announced the Lake Constance shipping company (BSB) as part of the Climate Dialogue.
A feasibility study commissioned by the Bavarian state government aims to clarify how climate-neutral shipping can work on Lake Constance. So far, there are no regulations on CO2 emissions, explained Professor Werner Tillmetz according to the press release. The biggest emitters of greenhouse gases on Lake Constance are the approximately 13,800 powerful motorboats - followed by the ferries and catamarans operated all year round and the seasonal passenger ships.
These three groups are responsible for 90 percent of the CO2 emissions of around 50,000 tons per year. The liquid green fuel e-methanol is the most sensible solution for the energy transition on Lake Constance. A joint approach by all players, including Austria and Switzerland, is crucial for success.
"It is not enough to set ambitious climate targets," added Baden-Württemberg's Environment Minister Thekla Walker (Greens). "Now we have to take the concrete steps to achieve these goals."
Shipping companies are considering using e-methanol as a more sustainable fuel option to reduce CO2 emissions, as highlighted by Environment Minister Thekla Walker. With the ban on new combustion-powered boats, there will be a shift towards environmentally friendly shipping on Lake Constance, contributing to the overall climate goals.
Source: www.dpa.com
