Damin Bertin, Business Manager at Opslag, in a speech about the challenges of the shipping industry, stressed the need for accurate and collected data. According to new European Union regulations, maritime vessels with a gross weight of 400 tons and above will be required to comply with MRV criteria starting January 1, 2025, and vessels with a gross weight of 5000 tons and above will enter the EU ETS system from 2027.
Impact of New Regulations on Maritime Operations
The date of January 1, 2029, will bring changes to the MRV framework, and vessels between 400 and 5000 tons will join this system from 2031. However, these proposals are still under legal review. Bertin expressed concern that the lack of clarity in regulations, especially regarding ports, border operations, and interactions between the EU and UK ETS systems, causes hesitation among operators in making decisions.
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The Necessity of Collecting Accurate Data
Bertin noted that waiting for clarity in regulations wastes time and creates fewer opportunities to collect reliable data and improve performance before legal changes occur. For example, Norway's Ministry of Climate and Environment confirmed that the FuelEU Maritime and ReFuelEU Aviation regulations will not come into effect before January 1, 2028.
From 2029, companies operating in Norway's oil and gas platforms will be required to reduce the intensity of greenhouse gases in their vessels. According to estimates from Rystad Energy, nearly 300 maritime vessels will be subject to these regulations, most of which, including dual-fuel LNG units, will not be able to meet the initial thresholds.
Bertin also pointed out that fuel consumption management and monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions must be conducted more carefully to optimize fleet performance. For instance, Opslag's performance program with MV Flat Confidence in Ghana recorded a fuel consumption reduction of 732.6 cubic meters and a reduction of 1,984 tons of CO₂.
Finally, Bertin emphasized that operators who now turn to data collection and analysis can help shape reporting standards and thus prepare themselves to comply with future requirements.
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