GATEWAY: GREEN AND TECHNOLOGICAL EUROPEAN WATERWAY

GATEWAY: GREEN AND TECHNOLOGICAL EUROPEAN WATERWAY TO ESTABLISH A SUSTAINABLE MARITIME CORRIDOR BETWEEN THE PORTS OF TENERIFE AND HUELVA (SPAIN).

The GATEWAY: Green And Technological European Waterway project aims to establish a sustainable maritime corridor between the ports of Tenerife and Huelva, fostering a transition towards a carbon-neutral blue economy and reducing the carbon footprint of maritime transport in Europe. This initiative directly aligns with the objectives of the EU Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters” and focuses on the Ports Community, recognizing their critical role in environmental and economic sustainability.
The project leverages the strategic importance of the Huelva-Tenerife route, which connects the Canary Islands with mainland Europe. This route is primarily operated by RO-PAX/RORO and container vessels (80-200 meters in length), serving as the main entry point for over 91% of imports to the Canary Islands. By introducing innovative green technologies, such as next-generation fuels (e.g., green hydrogen, ammonia, methanol), and developing the necessary infrastructure, GATEWAY seeks to decarbonize maritime transport while stimulating local economies.

The initiative seeks to address the challenges and opportunities related to the decarbonization of maritime transport and the reduction of the carbon footprint of goods transported between the Canary Islands and the Iberian Peninsula, focusing on innovation, feasibility, and replicability.
Specific Objectives:
1. Identify sustainable technologies and fuels: Evaluate solutions based on next-generation fuels (e.g., green hydrogen, ammonia, methanol) adapted to RO-PAX/RORO and container ships operating on the route.
2. Design green port infrastructure: Develop a technical plan for net-zero fuel supply stations in Tenerife and Huelva, integrating ongoing investments and creating new economic synergies.
3. Analyze economic and regulatory feasibility: Study cost overruns, legislative barriers, and financing opportunities to effectively implement these solutions.
4. Foster public-private collaboration: Promote cooperation between port authorities, shipping companies, maritime administrations, and local stakeholders to mobilize sustainable resources and investments.
5. Develop a scalable and replicable model: Create a reference framework that can be adapted to other strategic routes and contribute to positioning the Canary Islands as a hub for sustainable marine fuels in the Atlantic.
The GATEWAY initiative aims to involve key stakeholders within the port ecosystem to ensure a realistic analysis of the requirements to be considered in the technical and economic study to be conducted by the experts from the EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters program, achieving the following expected results: