UK ETS for Shipping: What to Expect
The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) is the United Kingdom’s carbon-pricing system, introduced in 2021 as a replacement for the EU ETS. The Authority has confirmed plans to include maritime from 1 July 2026.
UK ETS: Scope and Coverage
Vessels ≥ 5,000 GT
Intra-UK voyages
Emissions at berth in UK ports (100%)
Intra-UK voyages (100%)
Voyages between Great Britain and Northern Ireland (50%)
UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies excluded
CO2e scope (same as EU ETS)
No discounts for ice-class vessels
Allowances and Compliance
According to the UK ETS Authority’s plans, companies covered by the maritime extension will be required to acquire and surrender UK allowances (UKAs) to cover their verified emissions. UKAs are distinct from EU allowances (EUAs).
1 July 2026: Start of UK ETS maritime inclusion, subject to final legislation.
- 1 July 2026 until 31 December 2026: 2026 Reporting Cycle (First Compliance Year)
- 1 January 2027: Offshore vessels included
- 31 March 2027: First verified emissions report
- 30 April 2028: First allowance surrender (2026 and 2027 allowances surrendered together)
Our Insights on UK ETS Regulation
UK ETS Maritime Expansion: Key Updates and Compliance Strategies
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UK ETS Maritime 2026: Scope, Timeline and Compliance Checklist for Shipping Companies
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UK ETS Can Nudge Shipping Towards Decarbonisation, But Won’t Suffice on Its Own
EUAs can be purchased at a fixed price at auctions arranged during the year by the European Energy Exchange. They…
Focus on Operations - We’ll Handle Compliance.
For shipping companies, the real challenge is not the regulation itself, but integrating UK ETS into existing data, verification and commercial workflows.
OceanScore helps simplify exactly that.
