Obligations regarding the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport
From 1 January 2025, the FuelEU Maritime Regulation will enter into force and it is 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 achieving climate neutrality in 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
More information on the FuelEU Maritime Regulation and your obligations can be found on the website of the European Commission and the EMSA website:
- Decarbonising maritime transport – FuelEU Maritime
- Questions and Answers on Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport, and amending Directive 2009/16/EC
- Reducing GHG emissions
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:
- The NEa can perform additional checks on the monitoring plan, the FuelEU report and the verifier's compliance calculations (Article 17)
- 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)
- The NEa decides on a review application when a company disagrees with a decision of the verifier (Article 26)