The shipping industry, due to the ships’ gigantism trend and the concentration of operations in specific regions, is considered the source of both positive and negative impacts for port-cities. The ambitious objective of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the decarbonisation of the sector till 2050 has further shifted attention on the activities and policies that shipping companies adopt and implement not only for complying with international regulations but moving beyond, integrating sustainability priorities and goals into their corporate strategic planning. In the context of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, this paper aims at investigating the nature and orientation of voluntary disclosure practices and environmental sustainability for achieving the SDGs in the maritime industry, focusing on the cruise and container shipping markets. Analysis confirms the companies’ commitment towards meeting the 2030 Agenda through dedicated sustainability strategies. However, it revealed the qualitative nature of reported information and the lack of specific indicators for measuring and evaluating sustainability performance at the corporate level.

The decarbonization of short sea shipping is emerging as a critical priority for Mediterranean countries. This paper presents key findings from the ELECTRA-GR project, funded by the EEA Financial Mechanism (MIS 5202231), which aimed to evaluate the feasibility, technical readiness, and legislative requirements for the electrification of coastal ferry services in Greece. The study focused on two pilot routes—Salamis–Perama and Chios–Oinousses— representative of the high-frequency, short-distance ferry operations characteristic of the Greek archipelago. A comprehensive assessment was conducted combining technical fleet profiling, stakeholder consultations, legislative analysis, cost–benefit evaluations, and international benchmarking with Norway. For the base scenario of the high-traffic Salamis–Perama route, full electrification yields an annual reduction of approximately 900 tons of CO₂ compared to diesel operation and achieves a Net Present Value (NPV) of €1.6 million over a 15-year period. In contrast, the Chios–Oinousses route, characterized by lower traffic volume, achieves a reduction of 85 tons of CO₂ annually through hybrid conversion, but results in an NPV of €−1.69 million, underscoring the need for financial support mechanisms or targeted subsidies to ensure economic feasibility. The results indicate that electrification of short ferry routes in Greece is technically feasible and environmentally advantageous but faces significant challenges, including inadequate port infrastructure, regulatory gaps, and limited industrial readiness. The study proposes a structured roadmap toward electrification, emphasizing the modernization of shipyards, tailored policy instruments, and public–private cooperation. The findings contribute to the formulation of a scalable strategy for clean maritime transport in peripheral and island regions of Greece.

Greek shipping is the world’s leading power and is well known for its efficiency and performance. The Greek fleet represents almost 21% of the global fleet in terms of capacity (deadweight tonnes – dwt) and 60% of the European Union’s one (Union of G...