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ETS obligations: Obtaining and surrendering allowances

Every year, by the 30th of September, the shipping company needs to surrender emission allowances according to its aggregated emissions report at company level.

Maritime Operator Holding Account (MOHA)

In order to be able to buy, trade and surrender allowances, shipping companies need to open a Maritime Operator Holding Account (MOHA). This is an account in the EU ETS Registry, the online system of accounts and emission allowances for participants in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). A shipping company that is attributed to the Netherlands, can apply for a MOHA in the Dutch part of the EU ETS Registry through this web form. One of the requirements in the form is that each user has an URID, a Unique Registry Identifier. To get an URID, we refer to our manual. In case an ISM company has assumed MRV and ETS obligations from the ship owner, a mandate document is mandatory for requesting a MOHA. The minimum contents of the mandate document can be found in Implementing regulation (EU) 2023/2599.

European emission allowances (EUAs)

The allowances are general EU allowances (EUA), the same allowances used by industry, power sector and aircraft operators. EUAs issued on or after 2013 do not expire. The allowances may be banked for future years. Allowances that have been surrendered cannot be retrieved.

EUAs can be obtained via two methods:

  1. buying allowances at an auction

or

  1. buying allowances on the secondary market.

The auctions are organised by the European Energy Exchange (EEX) and are held on average four times a week. On the secondary market, EUAs can be bought bilaterally or on central trading platforms, namely the EEX and on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). See here for more information on buying allowances.  

Surrender allowances

The shipping companies must surrender the number of allowances equivalent to the aggregated emissions data. This is done in the EU ETS Registry. The deadline for surrendering allowances for 2024 emissions is 30 September 2025.