Maritime transport will become a part of the Emissions Trading System starting on 1 January 2024

Maritime transport will become a part of the EU’s current Emissions Trading System starting on 1 January 2024, in accordance with the Directive (EU) 2023/959 of the European Parliament and Council given on 10 May 2023. The Directive's obligations have been introduced in Finland's new national Emissions Trading Act, the Government proposal (HE) 71/2023 of which was approved on 12 December 2023 and which will enter into force on 1 January 2024. It will repeal the current Emissions Trading Act and Act on Aviation Emissions Trading. 

Maritime Emissions Trading applies to vessels with a gross tonnage of at least 5,000 and that carry freight and passengers for commercial purposes. These obligations will come to apply to offshore vessels with a gross tonnage of at least 5,000 starting on 1 January 2027. 

The EU's Emissions Trading System is the most important EU-level action for achieving emission reduction goals. Traficom's task is to act as the competent authority in accordance with the Directive and as the management authority for shipping companies with regard to maritime transport. 

Emissions trading comes into effect gradually

The surrender requirements of emission allowances apply to one hundred percent (100 %) of the emissions that are generated by ships stationed at Member State ports and performing voyages departing from a port of call under the jurisdiction of a Member State and arriving at a port of call under the jurisdiction of a Member State. Additionally, surrender requirements of emission allowances applies to fifty percent (50 %) of the emissions from ships performing voyages between a port of call under the jurisdiction of a Member State and arriving at a port of call outside the jurisdiction of a Member State. 

Emissions trading applies to the carbon dioxide emissions of maritime transport starting on 1 January 2024 and methane and nitrous oxide emissions starting on 1 January 2026. 

Shipping companies shall surrender allowances to 40 % of verified emissions reported for 2024 and 70 % of verified emissions reported for 2025. Starting from 2026, allowances shall be surrendered in full. 

Monitoring, reporting and verification of maritime transport emissions

Marine transport emissions must be monitored, reported and verified in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2023/957 of the European Parliament and Council. Regulation 2023/957 amends Regulation (EU) 2015/757 so that in the future the inclusion of maritime transport in the EU Emissions Trading System and the rules for monitoring, reporting and verification of other greenhouse gases and emissions from other types of ships will be taken into account (so-called MRV Regulation).

Starting at the beginning of 2024, the obligations of the MRV Regulation apply to ships with a gross tonnage of at least 5,000 and carry freight and passengers for commercial purposes. Starting on 1 January 2025, the obligations also apply to general cargo ships with a gross tonnage of 

under 5,000 but at least 400, and that carry freight and passengers for commercial purposes. Starting on 1 January 2025, these obligations also apply to offshore ships with a gross tonnage of at least 5,000 

In addition to carbon dioxide, the scope of the MRV Regulation includes methane and nitrous oxide as of January 1, 2024.

Companies must deliver the vessel’s monitoring plan to Traficom on 1 April 2024 at the latest

 By 1 April 2024 at the latest, companies must submit to Traficom the monitoring plan for each ship falling within the scope of Regulation 2023/957, which the verifier has assessed as meeting the requirements of the Regulation and which must take into account the inclusion of methane and nitrous oxide emissions in the scope of the Regulation.

The European Commission has issued delegated regulations to support the implementation of emissions trading and the MRV regulation. 

Traficom completes and updates the information and guidelines related to the emissions trading in maritime transport.