EMEA News
European Investment Bank Signs €150 Million Sustainable Shipping Agreement with ABN AMRO
The European Investment Bank (EIB) today announced that it has signed an agreement with the Dutch bank ABN Amro to provide €150 million ($160.45 million) in support investments for greening the European shipping fleet.
"The Bank received a clear signal from the market that there was a financing gap for the greening of shipping fleets," said EIB vice-president Pim van Ballekom.
"By allowing the EIB to take more risk, the Investment Plan for Europe enabled us to create a new instrument to support shipping companies in complying with the European sustainability standards.
The agreement is intended to ensure favourable financial terms for promoters of sustainable projects in the maritime transport sector.
The facility, which applies to both inland shipping and seagoing operators, will be available for the retrofitting of existing shipping and for the construction of new vessels with a green innovation aspect.
"This is the second agreement under a €750 million ($802.27 million) EFSI Green Shipping Guarantee Programme, which was set up after numerous discussions with Dutch counterparts from the public and private sector," said van Ballekom.
"We are really looking to ship owners to make use of it so that we can implement it in other countries as well."
