Federal government launches green inland shipping funding of up to EUR 70m

Funding covers zero- and low-emission propulsion for new and retrofitted inland vessels, port, charging and refuelling infrastructure (including hydrogen, ammonia and methanol) and plants for renewable electricity and hydrogen with storage; companies and municipalities based in Germany are eligible, with applications open from 17 August 2026 (corridors) and from 1 September to 19 October 2026 (funding line 2).

On 10 August 2026 the Federal Transport Ministry published the first funding call under its new guideline for green inland shipping: for the build-up of green inland-shipping corridors the federal government initially provides up to EUR 70 million, with applications possible from 17 August 2026 via the easy-Online portal. Support goes to zero- and low-emission propulsion on new and retrofitted cargo vessels, port, charging and refuelling infrastructure, and plants for renewable electricity and hydrogen including storage; the aim is also to move more freight and passengers onto the waterways. On 21 August 2026 the first call for funding line 2, covering the shift of local public transport and urban commercial traffic to zero-emission inland vessels, followed with up to EUR 14 million; applications there are possible from 1 September to 19 October 2026. (LOK Report, 10 Aug and 21 Aug 2026)