Shipping companies have both Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) and Emission Trading System (ETS) obligations.
- The MRV obligations imply that the shipping companies must monitor and report their emissions and have them verified.
- The ETS obligations imply that the shipping companies must obtain and surrender allowances.
Expansion of the ETS and MRV obligations in the future
Starting with the 2026 reporting period, cargo and passenger ships of or above 5,000 gross tonnage (GT) have to surrender emission allowances for their Methane (CH4) and Nitrous Oxide (N2O) emissions.
The scope of the EU ETS and MRV requirements will continue to expand. Offshore vessels of 5,000 GT and above have monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) obligations from 2025; and from 2027 they must also surrender emission allowances.
General cargo vessels between 400 and 5,000 GT and offshore vessels between 400 and 5,000 GT have been subject to MRV obligations since 2025. A decision on whether these vessels will be included in the ETS will be made later.
More detailed information?
More information and frequently asked questions on EU ETS Maritime can be found on the website of the European Commission. The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has published the recordings and presentations of a webinar on the topic of shipping companies and their responsibilities.