EU Parliament, Council agree on regulation to green maritime fuels

The European Parliament and the Council on Thursday reached political agreement on the FuelEU Maritime regulation, which is part of the "Fit for 55" package to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030​.

The FuelEU Maritime initiative seeks to increase the demand for renewable and low-carbon fuels and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the maritime sector. It will mandate gradually lowering the greenhouse gas intensity of fuels used by the shipping sector by 2% in 2025 and as much as 80% by 2050.

“With the long-term outlook of this agreement, we are sending a clear signal to the sector across the value chain, from shipowners and operators to fuel producers, shipyards and equipment manufacturers, that it is worthwhile and necessary to invest in sustainable maritime fuels and zero-emission technologies,” said Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean.

The regulation also includes rules to mitigate air pollution emissions in ports.

Yesterday’s agreement complements the provisional agreement achieved in December 2022 to include shipping emissions in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS).

Commenting on Thursday’s announcement, the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) said it is a step in the right direction. “But we need all hands on deck and, in particular, more robust requirements for fuel suppliers to deliver the clean fuels needed. Therefore, we call on the Parliament and the Council to support binding targets on suppliers for clean marine fuels in the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED),” added ECSA’s secretary general Sotiris Raptis.

Water transport accounted for 3%-4% of total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the EU in 2021, the European Commission noted in its announcement.

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