OPX €200.00 $231.85 -8.7% to prev. month
EUA €68.86 $80.22 -0.86% to prev. day
EmissionsEU ETSEUAs
2 min read

Getting up to speed with the EU ETS: a guide to best practice

Implementation of the EU ETS for shipping from 1 January 2024 entails new regulatory complexity and financial risk with significant liabilities for the industry due to the requirement for shipping companies to purchase carbon credits to compensate for their annual emissions.    This presents a new set of challenges for shipping companies such as determining […]

OceanScore
Shipping companies face compliance challenges under the EU ETS, requiring carbon credit purchases, data verification, and cost allocation strategies. Learn how to navigate these complexities.

Implementation of the EU ETS for shipping from 1 January 2024 entails new regulatory complexity and financial risk with significant liabilities for the industry due to the requirement for shipping companies to purchase carbon credits to compensate for their annual emissions. 

 

This presents a new set of challenges for shipping companies such as determining who is responsible for compliance with the EU ETS, who should pay for emissions, what contractual obligations need to be in place, data-handling and verification procedures, how to procure carbon credits, what trading platform to use and how to allocate costs across the value chain. 

 

In order to navigate these myriad complexities, administrative systems need to be set up with digital automation of the various processes to effectively manage and mitigate the risks and ensure efficient compliance with the regulation, given non-compliance can incur heavy financial penalties or even an EU trading ban for an entire fleet. 

 

OceanScore has been supporting dozens of partners in efficiently managing compliance with this regulation and securing end-to-end transparency to limit the inherent risks. In this series of blogs, we share some of our insights for EU ETS best practice to clarify the steps required.  

While not definitive, as the diverse nature of shipping requires a tailored approach, it is intended as a useful guide to help companies define their EU ETS strategy and avoid some of the pitfalls on the difficult path to compliance. 

Related posts

Compliance ForecasterFuelEU
3 min read

FuelEU Maritime Forecasting: Managing Compliance Exposure Before It Becomes a Cost

FuelEU Maritime exposure develops continuously throughout the year. This article explains how compliance forecasting helps shipping companies manage cost, risk,…

Damla Hasenclever
Cargo ship in Singapore, navigating EU ETS compliance.
asian shipping emissionsemission trading systemEU ETSSingapore
5 min read

Singaporean vessels to contribute €330m share of Asian shipping’s emissions liabilities under EU ETS

Singapore-registered vessels will be required to contribute a significant €330m share of Asian shipping’s total emissions liabilities under the EU…

OceanScore
ESI
3 min read

Is the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) Worth It? A Commercial Perspective for Shipping Companies

Is participation in the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) worth it? For more than 6,800 vessels worldwide, the answer is yes.…

Damla Hasenclever
4 min read

Maritime Compliance in 2026: What Commercial and Technical Teams Need to Prepare For

2026 will be a decisive year for maritime compliance. As FuelEU Maritime completes its first compliance cycle, EU ETS reaches…

OceanScore
EU ETSFuelEUFuelEU pooling marketplace
3 min read

How Shipping Companies Can Turn FuelEU Maritime Compliance Into a €500M Profit Opportunity 

As global trade grows and decarbonization pressures increase, the shipping industry is facing heightened scrutiny over its environmental impact. At…

OceanScore
Djibouti carbon pricingmaritime regulation
4 min read

Djibouti Carbon Pricing for Shipping: A Regional Scheme Worth Watching

As global trade grows and decarbonization pressures increase, the shipping industry is facing heightened scrutiny over its environmental impact. At…

OceanScore
DoC HolderEU ETSFuelEUfueleu maritime regulationimoMEPC83
3 min read

MEPC 83: The New Global Carbon Rules

MEPC83 approves complex global GHG reduction rules for shipping, introducing dual thresholds, remedial units, and a FuelEU-like system starting 2028.

OceanScore
Asian shipping companies confront rising EU ETS costs, with major impacts on compliance and emissions trading.
Asiaemissions trading systemeu emissioneu emissions tradingshipping companiestrading system eu
5 min read

Asian shipowners face hefty emissions liabilities of €1bn for EU-bound voyages

Asian shipowners with vessels sailing to and from Europe are likely to face estimated emissions liabilities of over €1 billion…

OceanScore
Newsletter banner for OceanScores February 2026 Pool-Price Index Market Commentary, featuring an aerial view of a large container ship moving through the ocean.
FuelEUFuelEU PoolingOPX
2 min read

OceanScore Pool-Price Index Market Commentary: February 2026

After compliance balances were closed at year-end, additional 2025 surplus volumes were released to the market in January. This increase…

Albrecht Grell
A large cargo ship loaded with colorful shipping containers is guided by tugboats through a busy port with cranes and other vessels docked along the waterfront.
ESI
3 min read

Environmental Ship Index: Reduce Port Fees Through Environmental Performance

Many ships already qualify for port fee discounts through the Environmental Ship Index (ESI). Learn how the scheme works and…

Damla Hasenclever
Turn obligation into opportunity

Turn obligation into opportunity

Explore our maritime emissions compliance solutions designed to meet evolving regulations like EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime.

our clients and partners