<p>This paper presents an innovative approach to urban coastal transportation based on the deployment of hybrid-electric passenger vessels. In many Mediterranean cities, historical urban layouts limit the expansion of land-based infrastructure such as railways and road systems, creating significant challenges for sustainable mobility. The proposed solution consists of a small-capacity (≈250 passengers) hybrid-electric vessel designed to operate along the coastal axis of Genoa, integrating with existing public transport systems. The novelty of the study lies in the combined use of green propulsion technologies and existing port infrastructure, enabling rapid implementation with limited investment. A comparative analysis is conducted in terms of energy consumption, environmental impact, and economic feasibility, benchmarking the proposed solution against traditional transport modes such as trains, buses, and private vehicles. Results indicate that the proposed system can significantly reduce emissions and congestion while maintaining competitive travel times. The approach is scalable and transferable to other Mediterranean cities with similar geographical and infrastructural constraints.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>