- FuelEU Maritime, effective January 1, 2025, focuses on reducing GHG emissions in EU and EEA waters.
- Due to delays with the EEA agreement, certain countries like Norway and Iceland are excluded from the regulation.
- Countries like Denmark, Greece, Italy, Malta, and Finland have approved exemptions under the regulation.
The FuelEU Maritime regulation, launched on January 1, 2025, is a major step in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the maritime sector in EU and EEA waters. By enforcing GHG intensity limits and promoting alternative fuels and technologies, the regulation aims to decarbonize maritime transport. However, certain complexities, including exemptions for specific routes and delays in applying the regulation to EEA countries, shape its implementation, reports North Standard.
Understanding FuelEU Maritime’s Key Objectives
The regulation’s primary focus is to limit GHG intensity, which measures energy consumed per output unit. Ships are encouraged to reduce fuel consumption or adopt lower-carbon alternatives to meet the targets.
Compliance deficits are calculated using the difference between the target and actual GHG intensity, multiplied by total energy consumption.
Exclusions for EEA Countries
FuelEU Maritime does not apply to Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein due to delays in the EEA agreement.
While Liechtenstein’s landlocked status exempts it naturally, Norway and Iceland remain outside the regulation’s jurisdiction for now. A timeline for future inclusion has yet to be confirmed, with updates available from the Norwegian Maritime Authority.
Key Exemptions Under Article 2 of the Regulation
FuelEU Maritime includes exemptions for certain EU regions and specific maritime activities until December 31, 2029. These exemptions aim to balance environmental goals with regional and operational challenges.
Ships traveling between islands with fewer than 200,000 inhabitants are exempt.
Routes to territories like Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and the Canary Islands are excluded.
Ships performing public service contracts benefit from exemptions, particularly in states like Malta and Cyprus.
Passenger ships operating between mainland ports and jurisdictional islands under long-standing public service agreements are also covered.
Each exemption requires formal permission and may involve written agreements for areas opting for early implementation.
Approved Exemptions by Member States
Several EU member states have secured exemptions for specific routes, ports, and vessels under the regulation:
- Denmark: Exemptions under Article 2(3) for certain island routes.
- Greece: Approved exemptions for small island connections as per Article 2(3).
- Italy: Includes exemptions under Article 2(3) and specified vessels under Article 2(6).
- Malta: Exemptions under Article 2(3) for maritime public service routes.
- Finland: Expected to implement Article 2(3) exemptions, though final confirmation is pending from the EU and local authorities.
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Source: North Standard
