Which maritime emissions are covered?
For ships in scope, EU ETS covers 100% of emissions from voyages between two EU ports and emissions within EU ports. It covers 50% of emissions from voyages between an EU port and a port outside the EU. The system is route-based and flag-neutral.
Since 2024, cargo and passenger ships of 5,000 gross tonnage and above have been included. From 2026, methane and nitrous oxide are included in the EU ETS maritime greenhouse gas scope alongside carbon dioxide.
How does the allowance phase-in work?
The surrendering obligation was phased in. Shipping companies surrender allowances for 40% of covered emissions reported for 2024, 70% of covered emissions reported for 2025 and 100% of covered emissions reported for 2026 and subsequent years, subject to the detailed rules and any applicable derogations.
What is an EUA?
An EU Allowance, or EUA, represents the unit used for compliance in the EU ETS. Shipping companies calculate covered verified emissions and surrender the required number of allowances by the applicable deadline. The market price of EUAs therefore affects the indicative financial exposure associated with a voyage or fleet.
EU ETS is an allowance system tied to covered emissions. FuelEU Maritime regulates the GHG intensity of energy used on board and has its own compliance balance and penalty framework. A single voyage can create exposure under both regimes.
How does FuelEU Maritime differ?
FuelEU Maritime focuses on lifecycle GHG intensity, expressed in gCO₂eq/MJ, and compares the ship's annual average intensity with a progressively tightening target. EU ETS focuses on covered greenhouse gas emissions and the corresponding allowance obligation.
That is why a useful voyage view often needs both: the FuelEU compliance position and the indicative EU ETS allowance requirement.
How TidalIQ uses the two views
The TidalIQ FuelEU Maritime calculator can estimate FuelEU position, GHG intensity, EUAs required and indicative ETS cost from voyage and fuel inputs. Those outputs are indicative and do not replace verified regulatory calculations.
Official references
Related guides
This guide is general information, not legal or verification advice. Check current EU ETS rules, derogations and verified emissions data before making compliance decisions.