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EU ETS – what does it mean to the charterer?

‍Shipping’s inclusion in the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) will bring carbon pricing to the maritime sector for the first time and the cost will eventually be added to the charterer's freight rate. One way to prepare, is by understanding what the EU ETS means to the charterer.
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September 21, 2022

‍Shipping’s inclusion in the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) will bring carbon pricing to the maritime sector for the first time and the cost will eventually be added to the charterer's freight rate. One way to prepare, is by understanding what the EU ETS means to the charterer.

Updated: December 19, 2022

The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)

The European Union Emissions Trading System is a cornerstone of the EU's policy to combat climate change and its key tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively.

The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) today:

  • Today the system operates in all EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway,
  • limits emissions from around 10 000 installations in the power sector and manufacturing industry, as well as airlines operating between these countries,
  • covers around 40 % of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The EU ETS works on a cap-and-trade principle. A cap is set on the total amount of certain greenhouse gases that can be emitted in the system. The cap is reduced over time so that total emissions fall. Within the cap, installations buy or receive emissions, which they can trade with one another as needed.

An EU allowance, or an EUA, is a permit to emit 1 tonne of carbon dioxide or its equivalent (CO2e). The European Energy Exchange (EEX) lists the EUA spot market price.

Including shipping in the EU ETS

In July 2021 the European Commission presented a large revision of the ETS directive and the inclusion of shipping was one of many major amendments. Since then, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have suggested several amendments to the Commission's proposal to include shipping in its carbon trading scheme.

Mid December, EU institutions managed to come to a agreement on how to reform the European Union's Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). From the charterer's perspective these are the most important takeaways:  

  • There will be a three year phase-in for the shipping industry
             - 40 % of emissions reported in 2024 will have to be paid for in 2025
             - 70 % of emissions reported in 2025 will have to be paid for in 2026
             - 100 % of emissions reported in 2026 will have to be paid for in 2027
  • 50 % of emissions from global EU voyages will be covered by the ETS - Depending on progress at International Maritime Organization (IMO) the coverage of global  voyages should be revised in 2028
  • The scope of greenhouse gases will be extended to methane and nitrous oxide (N2O) - Methane and N2O will be included in reporting system (MRV) from 2024 and in the ETS from 2026
  • The EU ETS will apply to all cargo vessels and passenger ships over 5,000 gross tonnes.
  • Offshore service vessels are to be included in the MRV system from 2025 and in the ETS from 2027
  • Ships of 400 gross tonnage and above is to be included in the MRV in 2025 to evaluate whether they are to be included in the ETS in 2026
  • The Innovation Fund is strengthened with 20 million extra allowances, and there will be dedicated calls to decarbonise the maritime sector under the Innovation Fund
  • Failure to surrender emission allowances may lead to fines and refusal of port calls
  • The shipping company will be responsible for the compliance with the EU ETS however, the shipping company will be entitled to claim reimbursement for the costs from the entity that is directly responsible for the decisions affecting the CO2 emissions of the ship

The agreement still needs to be officially approved before entering into force.

See updated list according to EU legal developments

Speeding up the inclusion of shipping in the EU ETS will also speed up commercial decabonisation

Carbon price added to the freight rate

The added carbon cost from the inclusion of shipping in the EU ETS will eventually be included in the freight rate. Some shipowners warn that the cost of complience with the EU ETS will be included in the freight rate from 2023.

Shipping might be a minor part of the charterers’ everyday work, but emissions from shipping have the potential to highly influence freight rates. At a rate of EUR 90/tonne CO2 the added carbon cost of an internal EU voyage in the MR segment would be roughly EUR 70 000.

From carbon cost to carbon opportunity

Charterers could choose to wait and see what happens and then accept the added cost, or they could be proactive and harvest the possibilities that lie within factoring carbon into your commercial decisions.

Want to know more about making shipping emissions your competitive advantage? Read our article Charterers can kickstart the commercial decarbonisation of shipping.

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EU ETS – what does it mean to the charterer?

‍Shipping’s inclusion in the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) will bring carbon pricing to the maritime sector for the first time and the cost will eventually be added to the charterer's freight rate. One way to prepare, is by understanding what the EU ETS means to the charterer.

Updated: December 19, 2022

The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)

The European Union Emissions Trading System is a cornerstone of the EU's policy to combat climate change and its key tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively.

The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) today:

  • Today the system operates in all EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway,
  • limits emissions from around 10 000 installations in the power sector and manufacturing industry, as well as airlines operating between these countries,
  • covers around 40 % of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The EU ETS works on a cap-and-trade principle. A cap is set on the total amount of certain greenhouse gases that can be emitted in the system. The cap is reduced over time so that total emissions fall. Within the cap, installations buy or receive emissions, which they can trade with one another as needed.

An EU allowance, or an EUA, is a permit to emit 1 tonne of carbon dioxide or its equivalent (CO2e). The European Energy Exchange (EEX) lists the EUA spot market price.

Including shipping in the EU ETS

In July 2021 the European Commission presented a large revision of the ETS directive and the inclusion of shipping was one of many major amendments. Since then, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have suggested several amendments to the Commission's proposal to include shipping in its carbon trading scheme.

Mid December, EU institutions managed to come to a agreement on how to reform the European Union's Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). From the charterer's perspective these are the most important takeaways:  

  • There will be a three year phase-in for the shipping industry
             - 40 % of emissions reported in 2024 will have to be paid for in 2025
             - 70 % of emissions reported in 2025 will have to be paid for in 2026
             - 100 % of emissions reported in 2026 will have to be paid for in 2027
  • 50 % of emissions from global EU voyages will be covered by the ETS - Depending on progress at International Maritime Organization (IMO) the coverage of global  voyages should be revised in 2028
  • The scope of greenhouse gases will be extended to methane and nitrous oxide (N2O) - Methane and N2O will be included in reporting system (MRV) from 2024 and in the ETS from 2026
  • The EU ETS will apply to all cargo vessels and passenger ships over 5,000 gross tonnes.
  • Offshore service vessels are to be included in the MRV system from 2025 and in the ETS from 2027
  • Ships of 400 gross tonnage and above is to be included in the MRV in 2025 to evaluate whether they are to be included in the ETS in 2026
  • The Innovation Fund is strengthened with 20 million extra allowances, and there will be dedicated calls to decarbonise the maritime sector under the Innovation Fund
  • Failure to surrender emission allowances may lead to fines and refusal of port calls
  • The shipping company will be responsible for the compliance with the EU ETS however, the shipping company will be entitled to claim reimbursement for the costs from the entity that is directly responsible for the decisions affecting the CO2 emissions of the ship

The agreement still needs to be officially approved before entering into force.

See updated list according to EU legal developments

Speeding up the inclusion of shipping in the EU ETS will also speed up commercial decabonisation

Carbon price added to the freight rate

The added carbon cost from the inclusion of shipping in the EU ETS will eventually be included in the freight rate. Some shipowners warn that the cost of complience with the EU ETS will be included in the freight rate from 2023.

Shipping might be a minor part of the charterers’ everyday work, but emissions from shipping have the potential to highly influence freight rates. At a rate of EUR 90/tonne CO2 the added carbon cost of an internal EU voyage in the MR segment would be roughly EUR 70 000.

From carbon cost to carbon opportunity

Charterers could choose to wait and see what happens and then accept the added cost, or they could be proactive and harvest the possibilities that lie within factoring carbon into your commercial decisions.

Want to know more about making shipping emissions your competitive advantage? Read our article Charterers can kickstart the commercial decarbonisation of shipping.