We’re excited to share a big step forward in our journey to make your cycling and sailing holiday even more eco-friendly. With support from the EU’s Cross-Re-Tour programme, the Greenway Foundation, Boat Bike Tours, and Sea Going Green have launched an innovative Energy Monitoring Project—bringing smart technology on board to reduce emissions and make every trip more sustainable, without compromising the experience you love.
Why We Measure to Reduce
Reducing CO₂ emissions is one of our key goals. But to reduce effectively, we first need to measure. That’s why we’re installing onboard monitoring systems to track fuel and electricity use—because MEASURING = KNOWING.
Smart Tech on Board
Together with our partners Amendtec and Maritime Solutions, we’re equipping 25 ships in our fleet with smart meters and dashboards. These tools allow captains to monitor real-time energy use and make climate-smart decisions—like reconsidering that “extra push” that burns more fuel than needed. Sustainability doesn’t stop with propulsion. Since food makes up a quarter of our CO₂ footprint, we’re also calculating the environmental impact of onboard meals—tracking everything from meat to dairy to plant-based alternatives.
Backed by the EU
Backed by the EU In early 2025, we received a grant from the Cross-Re-Tour Open Innovation Programme, designed to support green and digital innovations in tourism. Our project started with two pilot ships and is now scaling up across the Dutch Boat Bike Tours fleet. A Strong Start in Riga We officially kicked off the project in May at a two-day Cross-Re-Tour gathering in Riga, Latvia, with 79 fellow participants from 8 countries. We shared ideas, explored local sustainability efforts, and left inspired by the energy and innovation driving the tourism sector forward.
What’s Next
We’re now moving full steam ahead with the Energy Monitoring Project. In the coming months, we’ll share updates, onboard insights, and captain feedback as we continue to learn—and improve—together.
Funded by the European Union under the project Cross-Re-Tour of the SMP-COSME-2022-TOURSME Programme. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, the European Innovation Council, SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), the Cross-Re-Tour consortium or the contractor. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
