Understanding FuelEU Maritime

Shipping companies need to submit a vessel-specific monitoring plan to verifiers by August 31, 2024. As of January 1, 2025, shipping companies must monitor and record the energy usage at port and during operation for each ship as per the approved plan. Beginning 2026, emission data must be submitted to verifiers by January 31 annually.

The Fuel EU Maritime Regulation is a complementary regulation to the EU ETS. The EU ETS provides a regulatory framework for emissions reduction. In parallel, FuelEU Maritime supports the transition to low-carbon and renewable fuels, aligning with the goals of the EU ETS.

The regulation sets a limit for the annual average of GHG intensity for fuels used on board ships over 5,000 GT, arriving at or departing from ports under the jurisdiction of EU/EEA Member States.

GHG’s covered are carbon, methane, and nitrous oxide. The GHG intensity of the fuel is calculated on a life cycle basis based on emission factors determined for the Well-to-Tank and Tank-to-Wake parts, respectively.

Biofuels that comply with the sustainability and GHG saving criteria in the Annex II of the FuelEU Maritime regulation or the Renewable Energy Directive, can use the default values provided therein or actual values certified under a scheme recognised by the EU. (Biofuels that do not comply with these criteria or are produced from food and feed crops are considered to have the same emission factors as the least favourable fossil fuel pathway for this type of fuel.)

If the GHG intensity used on board exceeds the GHG intensity limit for the year in question, a financial penalty will be imposed on the shipping company. Noncompliance with the onshore power supply requirements also imposes a remedial penalty.

If a ship does not comply with the FuelEU Maritime regulation for two or more consecutive reporting years, the competent authority of the EU/EEA Member State at the port of call can issue an expulsion order to the shipping company. The ship is barred from entering any port in any Member State until the company meets its obligations.

In FuelEU Maritime, "Port of call" means a port for cargo, passenger embarkation, or disembarkation. Excluded are stops for refuelling, supplies, crew relief, dry-dock, repairs, distress, ship-to-ship transfers outside ports, shelter from weather, and containerships in a neighbouring transhipment port.

FuelEU Maritime offers flexibility through banking, borrowing, and pooling. Ships can store compliance surplus for subsequent periods or borrow from the next period to offset deficits. Pooling allows verified ships under the same verifying body to combine compliance balances for individual ship compliance.