Obligations regarding the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport

As of 1 January 2025, the FuelEU Maritime Regulation entered into force as a complementary regulation to the EU ETS.  The regulation applies to all commercial vessels over 5.000 gross tonnes, which serve to transport passengers or cargo. 

The FuelEU Maritime Regulation is part of the Fit for 55 legislative package to reduce European Union (EU) greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality by  2050. FuelEU Maritime aims to increase the consistent use of renewable and low-carbon fuels and alternative energy sources in maritime transport. 

The Regulation's objectives are achieved in two ways: 

  • by gradually reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of fuels used on board ships, and
  • by mandating the use of on-shore power supply or alternative zero-emission technologies in ports

The greenhouse gas intensity reduction shall be calculated against the reference value of 91,16 grams CO2 equivalent per MJ and has the below reduction percentages:

  • 2,0% from 1 January 2025
  • 6,0% from 1 January 2030
  • 14,5% from 1 January 2035
  • 31,0% from 1 January 2040
  • 62,0% from 1 January 2045
  • 80,0% from 1 January 2050

More information on the FuelEU Maritime Regulation and your obligations can be found on the website of the European Commission and the EMSA website: 

The European Sustainable Shipping Forum (ESSF) prepared two guidance documents providing technical expertise relevant for the implementation of the FuelEU Maritime regulation. These reports do not reflect the official view of the European Commission, nor are they legally binding:

Please refer to the Biofuels section of the NEa website for information on the requirements to prove compliance with the sustainability criteria allowing for the use of renewable and low carbon fuels in the FuelEU report. 

The NEa as your competent authority

The FuelEU Maritime Regulation applies from January 1, 2025, except for the submission of the monitoring plan (Article 8 and 9), which was applicable from 31 August, 2024. For your FuelEU Maritime obligations and deadlines, we refer to the website of the European Commission and the EMSA website. Compliance with the FuelEU Maritime Regulation relies heavily on private supervision by verifiers and the national accreditation bodies. 

The Dutch Emissions Authority (NEa) is the competent authority for the  following three tasks: 

  1. The NEa can perform additional checks on the monitoring plan, the FuelEU report and the verifier's compliance calculations (Article 17)
  2. The NEa collects the FuelEU penalty (where appropriate, the NEa modifies the FuelEU penalty if inaccuracies are found) and then registers the FuelEU compliance document in the FuelEU database (Article 22 and 23)
  3. The NEa decides on a review application when a company disagrees with a decision of the verifier (Article 26)

Milestones and compliance tasks

The text below summarises the timeline of the different milestones and compliance tasks in the verification period, as well as of the different documents that need to be delivered and obtained.