Data-Driven Solutions for Emissions and Compliance

Featured in Freight Business Journal (Issue 3), this article explores how OceanScore supports maritime stakeholders in navigating upcoming compliance challenges—through smart tools, accurate emissions reporting, and regulatory foresight.

As the FuelEU Maritime regulation enters into force, the shipping industry may be looking at a surprising upside. Instead of acting solely as a cost driver, the regulation could create a net financial gain, potentially around USD$279 million (€250 million), according to a recent analysis by maritime data and compliance firm OceanScore.

　船舶の温室効果ガス（GHG）排出規制への適用管理ソリューションを提供するオーシャンスコアのアルブレヒト・グレルCEOがこのほど本紙インタビューに答え、欧州の燃料油規制FuelEUマリタイムに対応したマーケットプレイス（取引市場）サービスを開始することを明らかにした。同規制で認められているGHG排出の企業間融通を支援するため、透明性ある取引の場を設けることで業界の規制対応を支援する考えだ。...

Hamburg-based technology platform OceanScore has launched a platform to facilitate the trading of biofuel surpluses and deficits under the FuelEU Maritime Regulation pooling scheme, learns bunkering publication Manifold Times. The platform is designed to be simple and user-friendly, allowing bunker companies to find buyers for their surplus biofuels and shipping companies to find suppliers. It is free-to-use, with a low fee for signing on, and is intended to complement OceanScore's main software solutions.

OceanScore has seen accelerating market momentum in Asia since opening its Singapore office last year. This has enabled it to more effectively meet the needs of regional clients, while also forging strategic alliances to bolster its compliance services. OceanScore has quickly established itself as a trusted European compliance partner for the Asian shipping industry amid a pressing need for clarity and confidence on regulatory compliance among regional companies trading into Europe, according to Grayson.

The maritime sector is facing increasingly stringent regulations aimed at reducing emissions, with FuelEU Maritime and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) taking centre stage. OceanScore, a company providing compliance solutions, is offering innovative ways to help shipping companies meet these challenges and optimise their compliance strategies.

Hamburg-based technology platform OceanScore will introduce the Compliance Manager, its new solution that will help effectively manage FuelEU Maritime Regulation and EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) on one platform, in Singapore. Albrecht Grell, Managing Director, and Leo Grayson, Head of Commercial, APAC, will discuss the FuelEU regulation in depth, what it means for Asian players, and best practices and strategies for efficient compliance. The event will be held from 3 to 5pm (Singapore time) on 23 January. The venue of the event will be at OceanScore Singapore, c/o Blue Net Chartering Asia Pte. Ltd., 20 Cecil Street, PLUS, #24-02.

OceanScore says many shipping companies struggle to track whether invoices have been accepted, EUAs delivered or payments made without a centralized system. OceanScore client Hammonia Reederei states: "As a high-quality third-party manager, transparency is at the core of how we work with our customers - no hidden charges, no hidden fees. Managing ETS exposure across multiple owners and charterers is a complex task, but OceanScore's ETS Manager has made it efficient and straightforward. Their solution not only streamlines our processes but also helps us provide clear, transparent cost breakdowns around ETS compliance to our customers, reinforcing our commitment accountability to trust and accounting. Looking ahead, Grell says "temporary solutions may suffice for now in tackling some of these challenges, but they are not sustainable long-term", especially with implementation of FuelEU from next year that he believes will amplify pressure for automated data-driven systems to cope with the complexity. "The lessons from these challenges highlight the need for systematic, scalable solutions to manage emissions compliance effectively, ensuring long-term success under the EU ETS framework. The growing need for robust tools is clear. Transparency, efficiency and collaboration across stakeholders will be crucial to tackle the challenges ahead," he concludes.

Apart from the hit to the EU’s decarbonisation goals, OceanScore MD Albrecht Grell said the UK loophole would tie-up ship capacity, inflate freight rates and could cause disruption as carriers queue up at UK ports. “We need to consider that UK ports do not have the capacity to handle significant increases in throughput, so more port congestion, time lost, would have to be considered,” he said. Mr Grell added that he did not expect the loophole to last for long at any rate, as the EU is planning to review its ETS from 2026.

The current BIMCO draft provides a foundation but leaves substantial room for improvement and charter party specific clarifications, said Hamburg-based technology platform OceanScore on Wednesday (27 November). OceanScore added it is already working with customers to implement forward-thinking FuelEU strategies that fill these gaps, supporting smart decision making and efficient processes between the different stakeholders.