The UK appears to have become the hot EU ETS-dodging destination du jour, with many carriers adding a call there before going on to EU ports on Asia-Europe routes, reports The Loadstar.
ETS
While the UK has its own emissions trading system (ETS), shipping will only be included from 2026 – and even then, only voyages that depart from and arrive at UK ports.
This means shipping lines that would be paying a 50% EU ETS levy on a voyage from Asia to Europe, had they called first at an EU port, would only need to pay the 50% on the hop from Britain to Europe.
The report acknowledged: “As matters stand the UK does not intend to subject international shipping to emissions trading measures similar to the EU ETS: operators wishing to ship goods to and from Europe can largely avoid the EU emissions trading scheme by using UK ports to ship goods to and from EU destinations. Failure to align the UK ETS with the EU ETS provisions for international shipping risks the promotion of carbon leakage.”
OceanScore MD Albrecht Grell told The Loadstar there could be more congestion from 2025, as carriers adopt their new routes, prioritising a call at Felixstowe or Southampton before EU ports to avoid the EU ETS.
London Gateway
This week, DP World committed to a $1.3bn investment to expand operations at London Gateway, adding two new berths and a second rail terminal, turning the port into the largest in the UK by capacity within five years.
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Source: Theloadstar
