The ARGONAUT project is a cross-border initiative under the Interreg VI-A Greece–Italy 2021–2027 Programme aimed at promoting sustainable nautical tourism in Apulia (Italy) and Greece. It tackles shared challenges by enhancing tourism quality, introducing eco friendly services, strengthening green skills and boosting the international reputation of the involved destinations.

The partnership includes the Italian lead partner ITS Academy Mobilità, the Nautical Industrial Puglia District, the Municipality of Gallipoli and Greek partners Port Authority of Corfu S.A., Patras Port Authority and the Decentralised Administration of the Peloponnese, Western Greece and Ionian Islands.

Key activities entail the development of the Adriatic Maritime Route Planner, an AI-assisted platform offering real-time safer and greener nautical routes; the green transformation of pilot ports in Gallipoli, Corfu and Patras with electric charging stations, electric support vessels and caddies; the creation of the ARGONAUT Network for cross-border best practice exchange. The project also includes a capacity-building programme with theoretical and practical training on sustainable navigation and port management, along with a policy analysis leading to a Manifesto for Greener Nautical Tourism aligned with the EUSAIRstrategy. Local communities, educational institutions and authorities are engaged through awareness actions initiatives to foster environmental skills.

Expected results include reduced carbon emissions at equipped ports, improved nautical tourism management via the Route Planner and greater adoption of sustainable practices among stakeholders. The project will implement two main solutions: the Adriatic Route Planner and the Green Adriatic Spine facilities, supporting at least 870 visitors across 29 cultural and tourism sites. Through the ARGONAUT Network, stakeholders will
collaboratively adopt and promote greener tourism operations across Italy and Greece, enabling a sustainable transition in nautical tourism.