OPX (2026) €225.00 $263,49 +15% 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

FuelEUpooling
3 min read

Pooling Compliance Balances in Time Charters: Key Risks and Negotiation Tips

With verification according to EU ETS completed for most shipping companies, a critical assessment of EUA buying strategies is a…

OceanScore
OceanScore’s review of BIMCO’s FuelEU Maritime clause and its challenges.
carbon marketcarbon priceEmissionseu carbonEU ETSEuropean Commissionshipping companiesverified emissions
3 min read

EU ETS & MRV in Shipping: Defining Responsibility Between Owners and Managers

Shipping companies need to establish clear lines of responsibility both for reporting emissions under the EU’s MRV (Monitoring, Reporting and…

OceanScore
3 min read

OceanScore September Highlights: FuelEU Pooling Transparency & Shipping Compliance Updates

September 2025 was a month of milestones for OceanScore, from the launch of OPX (, our transparent FuelEU Pool-Price Index, to…

OceanScore
Cargo ship navigating EU ETS compliance.
complex regulationseu allowance euaeu emissionsmonitoring planshipping companies
5 min read

OceanScore identifies EU ETS best practice to tackle ‘strategy gaps’ on compliance

Many shipping companies are still striving to define their strategy for EU ETS compliance some 80 days after implementation of…

OceanScore
cargoeu emissions trading systemEuropean Commissiongreenhouse gas emissionsmaritime operationsmaritime operator holdingshipping companiesunion registry
5 min read

EU ETS Best Practices for Shipping: Lessons Learned After Implementation

OceanScore has been assessing early experiences as companies adapt to the EU ETS post-implementation, based on feedback from over 70…

OceanScore
FuelEUFuelEU Pooling
5 min read

FuelEU Maritime Compliance: Why Pooling Is Infinitely Better Than Paying the Penalty

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

OceanScore
ESI corePorts
3 min read

ESI Core: What Ports Need to Know About the Environmental Ship Index Update

ESI Core enters into force in 2027 and introduces the most ambitious evolution of the Environmental Ship Index so far.…

Damla Hasenclever
Shipping companies prepare for FuelEU Maritime regulation and compliance.
FuelEUfueleu maritime regulationfueleu reportmaritime datashipping
7 min read

FuelEU for thought: new regulation leaves DoC holder with fuel liabilities risk, says OceanScore

A collaboration agreement has been signed between a classification society ClassNK and a maritime data and technology firm OceanScore to…

OceanScore
EU ETS compliance: Setting up a Maritime Operator Holding Account (MOHA) and Union Registry trading account for shipping companies.
cap and trade systemEmissionseu emissionseu emissions trading systemEU ETSEUAsinnovation fundtrading period
3 min read

Setting up accounts for EUAs

Shipping companies operating under the EU ETS will be required to open a Maritime Operator Holding Account (MOHA) for the…

OceanScore
Newsletter banner for OceanScores October 2025 Pool-Price Index Market Commentary, featuring an aerial view of a large container ship moving through the ocean.
FuelEUFuelEU Pooling
2 min read

OceanScore Pool-Price Index Market Commentary: October 2025

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

Albrecht Grell
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