The 'Blue Economy for the All Atlantic' workshop took place on May 21, 2025 as part of the European Maritime Day (EMD) and gathered industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to dive into crucial topics influencing maritime strategy across the Atlantic Basin. The sessions addressed coastal resilience and the role of short sea shipping (SSS), with discussions reflecting the complexity and dynamism of managing a sustainable blue economy.
Interactive sessions underscored community concerns over regulatory timelines and the costs associated with compliance and integration of new technologies. Calls for cooperation were frequent, highlighting the juxtaposition of competition and collaboration required between maritime hubs such as Zeebrugge and Rotterdam.
The World Café further facilitated conversations around international cooperation, coastal resilience, and nature-based solutions, culminating in actionable insights to propel partnerships forward.
Session 1: Coastal Resilience in the Atlantic Basin
The workshop began with a focus on coastal resilience, bringing together esteemed speakers such as Majbritt Bolton-Warenberg from the Marine Institute and Kieran Coleman from the European Commission. Discussions centered on climate change impacts and the necessity of a coordinated response to support coastal communities. The announcement of a forthcoming Ocean Pact was significant, positioning this as a major European initiative.
Margherita Cappelletto from the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research stressed that the blue economy would continue to grow sustainably, introducing the characteristics of the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership.
Alexandra-Sophie Roy introduced the All-Atlantic Network of Coastal Resilience Beacon Sites, supported by AAORIA, which aims to connect scientists and local maritime stakeholders to share best practices.
Session 2: Short Sea Shipping (SSS) in the Atlantic Basin
Eamon Kelly from the Irish Maritime Administration and Gesine Meissner from DG MOVE led discussions on short sea shipping, highlighting the cooperation within the European Commission. This was echoed by Christos Economou, who underscored the role of basin strategies in addressing logistical questions related to SSS.
Liam Lacey emphasized the underappreciated importance of SSS in maritime trade for numerous member states, while Declan Freeman presented EUCON's initiatives, focused on optimizing port connections.
Session 3: Environmental and Logistical Benefits of SSS
The sustainable benefits of SSS were detailed by James Orlandi from the Port of Venice and other distinguished speakers. There was recognition of the necessity for ports to navigate uncertainties regarding fuels, technologies, and regulatory flexibility to adapt to evolving standards.
Audience discussions brought attention to the challenges faced by ports due to stringent regulations and the need for digitalization, which, while beneficial, introduces cybersecurity concerns.
Conclusions
The workshop reinforced the collaborative ethos necessary for a thriving blue economy, cementing the Atlantic Maritime Strategy's pivotal role in shaping sustainable futures. The outcomes will continue to influence strategic dialogues, fostering partnerships through AAORIA and other critical platforms for Atlantic maritime progress.
This workshop was not only an opportunity for insightful dialogue but a pivotal moment in shaping the future of the Atlantic Maritime Strategy, ensuring it remains at the forefront of global developments in maritime sustainability.
