(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) ClassNK has released “FAQs on the EU-ETS for Shipping (3rd Edition)”. These FAQs may be used by stakeholders in the maritime industry to support their understanding of environmental regulations and to consider possible responses.
The Paris Agreement adopted in 2015 sets a common goal for the global GHG emissions reduction, which is to keep the increase in global average temperature to at least well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels while aiming to limit it to 1.5°C.
International shipping is no exception; International Maritime Organization (IMO) revised its GHG Strategy in July 2023 as the 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG emissions from Ships, which includes a target for total annual GHG emissions from international shipping to be net zero by or around 2050.
Meanwhile, in the European Union (EU), CO2 emissions from maritime transport to and from ports in the European Economic Area (EEA) account for approximately 11% of the total CO2 emissions from the EU transport sector and 3% to 4% of the EU's total CO2 emissions. CO2 emissions from maritime transport are expected to increase unless further measures are taken.
The EU has therefore set a target of reducing GHG emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to the 1990 levels, with the aim of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. In
July 2021, a comprehensive climate policy package, “Fit for 55" was announced to achieve the 2030 target, including proposals to extend the EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) to the shipping sector and to promote the decarbonization of fuels used on board ships (FuelEU Maritime). Subsequently, EU decided to extend the EU-ETS to the shipping sector from 1 January 2024, and to implement the FuelEU Maritime from 1 January 2025.
In March 2023, ClassNK published the “FAQs on the EU-ETS for Shipping (1st Edition)”, which provides an overview of the EU-ETS for the shipping sector and the necessary preparations in a Q&A format to assist maritime stakeholders in their first efforts for the compliance with the EU-ETS. In June 2023, the amendments to the EU-ETS Directive to bring the shipping sector into the EU-ETS entered into force and, subsequently, supporting regulations have also been issued.
In January 2024, ClassNK published the FAQs of 2nd Edition to be updated to include the information regarding the regulations.
In this “FAQs on the EU-ETS for Shipping (Edition 3.0)”, the contents have been updated to include mainly information regarding the guidelines on the reporting and verification of actual Tank-to-Wake methane slip emission factors, which were issued by the European Commission in October 2025.
Download below the 3rd Edition Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the EU-ETS:
Source: ClassNK
For more info on EU Emissions Trading System, click HERE
