Ireland’s ocean economy has become one of the most dynamic parts of the national economy. In 2023 it generated around €6.5 billion in turnover, added €2.7 billion in gross value, and supported 39,000 jobs. At the European level, the blue economy employs 3.6 million people, with turnover of nearly €624 billion and GVA of €171 billion. These figures reflect how coastal and marine industries are growing rapidly, from offshore energy to aquaculture and tourism. For public authorities, the question is how to use procurement to harness this growth for sustainability, innovation, and inclusive regional development.
Ireland’s Policy Context
Ireland has put in place a robust framework for climate and marine planning. The Climate Action Plan 2025 sets out decarbonisation measures across the economy, including energy, transport, and industry. It is complemented by the Buying Greener Strategy and Action Plan 2024–2027, and Circular 17/2025, which updates and strengthens Green Public Procurement obligations for all public bodies.
In parallel, the government has set ambitious renewable energy goals: 5 GW of grid-connected offshore wind capacity by 2030, along with 2 GW of non-grid-connected generation in development. The National Marine Planning Framework and the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 provide the legislative and planning structures for offshore projects, establishing the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority to oversee consenting. Together, these policies create a clear baseline for buyers: procurement should not only deliver value for money but also align with Ireland’s climate and marine ambitions.
Opportunities for Procurement in the Blue Economy
One of the most visible intersections between procurement and the blue economy lies in offshore renewables and port readiness. Major investments are already underway. The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund committed €88.5 million to upgrade facilities at the Port of Cork to handle offshore wind infrastructure, while Shannon Foynes Port has completed a €32 million expansion co-funded by the EU Connecting Europe Facility to position the Shannon Estuary as a future hub for floating wind.
Maritime transport is another area where procurement can act as a catalyst. The world’s first all-electric car and passenger ferry, Norway’s MF Ampere, was introduced in 2015 and has since inspired a wave of zero-emission ferry contracts across Europe. Lisbon has followed suit, procuring ten electric ferries for commuter routes on the Tagus. These examples demonstrate that Irish buyers can realistically include zero-emission requirements for island and estuary ferry services, using life-cycle costing to capture long-term savings.
Procurement also has a role in coastal protection and nature restoration. The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 requires Member States to reverse ecosystem degradation and expand protected areas to 30 percent of land and sea. Nature-based solutions such as dune reinforcement or saltmarsh restoration can be specified in contracts, ensuring coastal infrastructure projects enhance, rather than damage, ecosystems.
In fisheries and aquaculture, public contracts underpin monitoring and data systems. The Marine Institute already commissions surveys and surveillance programmes with EU co-funding, ensuring sustainable stock management and water quality. Embedding open data and interoperability requirements in such contracts strengthens the evidence base for marine policy.
The Legal Framework: EU Procurement Tools
European procurement law already provides the flexibility to embed sustainability and innovation. Under Article 40 of Directive 2014/24/EU, contracting authorities can run structured pre-market consultations, ensuring early dialogue with suppliers without distorting competition. Specifications may be written in terms of performance rather than technical design. For instance, a tender can require a maximum level of emissions per passenger kilometre for ferries, or a specified percentage of recycled content in port construction materials.
Environmental labels may be requested as proof, provided that equivalent certifications are accepted. Award criteria can explicitly value sustainability, and life-cycle costing provisions allow buyers to assess long-term costs, from energy use to maintenance, rather than just upfront price. Where new technologies are still emerging, buyers may also use innovation partnerships or competitive dialogue to co-develop solutions with the market.
Practical Application in Ireland
These legal tools translate into practical steps for Irish authorities. For port and coastal works, tenders can require low-carbon cement, recycled aggregates, or construction waste plans, with monitoring through contract key performance indicators. Ferry service procurements can specify zero-emission or hybrid propulsion, coupled with shore power readiness. Offshore wind enabling works can include biodiversity safeguards aligned with the National Marine Planning Framework. For monitoring contracts, buyers can require open standards and data-sharing protocols to integrate with national systems.
Crucially, procurement must remain accessible to SMEs. Circular 05/2023 requires contracting authorities to apply proportionate requirements and use contract lots where possible. This is particularly relevant in coastal regions, where SMEs could supply specialised services in construction, marine logistics, or environmental monitoring if procurement is designed with access in mind.
Lessons from International Examples
International practice shows how procurement can shape the blue economy. Norway’s decision to procure an electric ferry not only reduced emissions but transformed its entire short-sea shipping market. Lisbon’s order for a fleet of electric ferries shows how public buyers can create scale in clean transport. Closer to home, the Port of Cork and Shannon Foynes investments illustrate how port infrastructure can be procured in ways that prepare Ireland for offshore energy while embedding sustainability criteria.
Ireland’s blue economy represents both an economic opportunity and a climate imperative. The policy framework is in place: offshore wind targets, green procurement instructions, and a national marine planning system. The legal instruments are ready too, from functional specifications and life-cycle costing to innovation partnerships. What is needed now is confidence among contracting authorities to use these tools in practice.
By integrating sustainability into tenders for ports, vessels, coastal protection, and monitoring services, public buyers can align procurement with Ireland’s climate and biodiversity goals while supporting SMEs in coastal communities. Done well, procurement will not only deliver value for money but also shape a blue economy that is resilient, innovative, and sustainable for the decades ahead.
Sources:
EU Blue Economy report 2024: innovation and sustainability drive growth
Green Public Procurement
https://www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring–assessment/circular-economy/green-public-procurement
Offshore wind energy
National Marine Planning Framework
Maritime Area Planning Act 2021
https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2021/act/50/enacted/en/html
