Commission adopts rules on the inclusion of offshore ships in the emissions monitoring system

As part of the 'Fit for 55' package, the MRV Maritime Regulation was revised in 2023 to include greenhouse gas emissions from offshore ships in its scope as of 1 January 2025. This should apply to all offshore ships of 400 gross tonnage and above.

Following that revision, the European Commission has adopted a delegated act to clarify which emissions should be covered. The revised Regulation will cover emissions from ships designed or certified to perform service activities offshore or at offshore installations. This includes offshore support vessels, pipe layers or drilling ships.

Based on feedback received on Have Your Say between 31 July and 28 August 2024, the draft delegated act was slightly adjusted to broaden the list of ships considered as offshore ships – for instance, cable layers, wind turbine installation vessels and dredgers. The Commission will establish a dedicated workstream within the existing European Sustainable Shipping Forum expert group, gathering Member States, various shipping organisations and civil society representatives. To facilitate exchanges of views and expertise on topics related to the inclusion of offshore ships within MRV scope in view of potential future adjustments to the Regulation.

The delegated act also updated the MRV Maritime Regulation to ensure that companies do not need to surrender allowances under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) for emissions resulting from the combustion of synthetic low-carbon fuels, in line with recent amendments made to ETS monitoring and reporting rules. This ensures full alignment of fuel treatment between the shipping sector and the remaining sectors covered by the EU ETS.

The delegated act has now been submitted to the European Parliament and Council for scrutiny. Provided that these institutions do not raise any objections within two months, it will be published in the Official Journal and enter into force by the end of 2024.