Data-Driven Solutions for Emissions and Compliance

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.

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.

“Fuel selection is the most important lever under FuelEU,” said OceanScore Managing Director, Albrecht Grell. “Your choice of fuel can either create a surplus or a deficit in your compliance balance, directly affecting your costs.” Grell added: “Choosing the right fuel can help avoid penalties and even create revenue by pooling surpluses. But not all alternative fuels are the same, and their viability often depends on future pooling prices, which are hard to predict.” FuelEU charts a course for reducing emissions in shipping, with a target near net-zero by 2050. For now, two main options are available to meet the greenhouse gas (GHG) threshold of 89.3g CO2e/MJ until 2029: LNG and LPG: These fuels, when used in dual-fuel engines, will meet the rules and can generate surplus compliance balances. However, their benefits will decline until 2040 as limits tighten. Biofuels: These are a good option for most vessels. They are usually used in blends (eg. B20-B30) with conventional fuels. These blends will be compliant until 2040; higher blends or pure biofuels will be needed thereafter. One issue is that EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime treat biofuels differently. Under EU ETS, biofuels are considered zero-emission, meaning companies do not need to buy carbon credits. But under FuelEU, the rules are stricter. “FuelEU doesn’t count all biofuels equally,” Grell explained. “Fuels made from food or feed crops are treated like conventional fuels in terms of emissions. Only waste-based biofuels are fully compliant, and even then, their specific GHG values are above zero.” This difference matters. Standard biofuels, such as those from rapeseed or sunflower seeds, still benefit from ETS discounts but fall short under FuelEU. For full compliance, waste-based biofuels are needed, such as those from used cooking oil or animal fat. Further complications are added when considering the different rules behind the 50% discounts applied to voyages to and from the EU under the two regulations. OceanScore, which provides advanced solutions to facilitate efficient regulatory compliance, is assessing the impact of alternative fuels based on their relative carbon intensities, calorific values (LCVs), prices, and ETS cost incurred, reflecting these in its FuelEU Planner. The challenge goes beyond selecting fuels with low GHG intensity and factors such as the vessel's ice class or whether voyages are intra-EU or international also influence compliance balance. If companies bunker more expensive alternative fuels like biofuels, there is no guarantee it will always pay off. “FuelEU allows for pooling of compliance surpluses and deficits,” Grell added. “Surpluses generated by using compliant biofuels can be sold in the compliance market to vessels in deficit.” OceanScore’s analysis indicates that the compliance market will be in surplus by 1 January 2025. “This surplus will put downward pressure on pooling prices, meaning it might be cheaper to buy a compliance surplus in the pool rather than generate it through compliant bunkering on your own vessels,” Grell said. “Both approaches would be compliant with FuelEU regulation and need to be considered at least from a commercial angle.” Given this, any sound compliance strategy must look beyond fuel selection alone and consider the broader market dynamics. “Our FuelEU Planner integrates these variables into a comprehensive scenario simulation,” continued Grell. “This is crucial because tackling FuelEU successfully requires charterers, managers, and owners to collaborate using a shared, fact-based approach.” Grell outlines several key steps for shipping companies to optimise their compliance strategies. First, they must gain a thorough commercial understanding of the economics of different fuels, considering their prices, LCVs, EU ETS costs, and the cost of pooling FuelEU compliance balances. At the same time, the technical and operational feasibility of using biofuels across different vessels should be assessed. While tests so far indicate that biofuels can be used without significant issues, lingering concerns over engine compatibility and tank systems remain. “Engine manufacturers need to give the green light, and bunker providers must be identified in key ports,” Grell noted. “For now, many companies focus biofuel usage on a smaller portion of their fleet to simplify operations and reduce risks.” However, one of the biggest hurdles remains contractual. “How do you protect the DOC holder, who is responsible for penalties, from the fuel decisions of the charterer? How do you fairly share the costs of biofuels and the value of surpluses? And how do you manage uncertainties tied to deployment patterns and fuel accountability under FuelEU?” Grell asked. Without clear contractual terms, companies risk major financial and operational pitfalls. “To align incentives across owners, managers, and operators, you need clauses in agreements like Shipman and Charter Parties,” he stated. “The ‘polluter pays’ principle is not embedded in FuelEU, so a robust data-driven understanding of the entire value chain is essential to avoid costly disputes.” OceanScore’s FuelEU Planner provides a clear path through the complexity. By simulating fuel use, compliance costs, and pooling options, the tool enables companies to budget effectively and negotiate data-driven contracts. “We make the complex FuelEU regulations easier to manage,” Grell concluded. “With our solutions, companies can understand the commercial impacts of their fuel choices, gain full transparency and confidently manage their compliance strategy.” You might also like Veolia, Enagás, and Barcelona City Council inaugurate first urban cold recovery network from LNG terminal

アルブレヒト・グレル専務は「FuelEUはＥＵ-ＥＴＳに 比べると極めて複雑で、海運会社は燃料選択など難しい選択を求め と説明する。 サイトの利便性向上 FuelEUは、個船のＧＨＧ排出量の過不足（コンプライアンス・バランス）を、

船舶のＧＨＧ（温室効果ガス）データ管理サービスを提供する独オーシャンスコア（本社・ハンブルク）の試 算によると、ＥＵ―ＥＴＳ（欧州連合の排出量取引制度）の１００％適用が始まる２０２６年以降、日本の船主・船舶管理会社が管理するＥＵ寄港船の排出枠（ＥＵＡ）コストは年１億ユーロ（約１６５億円）規模に上る見通しだ。ＥＵに寄港する日本管理船約３７０隻のＥＵＡは年１７０万枠に達する見込みで、世界の海運全体のＥＵＡ年８

Greek shipping companies are set to face a total bill of over €175m in penalties incurred under FuelEU Maritime after it takes effect next year but can also capitalise on the use of alternative fuels both to curb their financial exposure and generate compliance surpluses, according to OceanScore.