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Renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport
SUMMARY OF:
Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?
It aims to ensure that European Union (EU) maritime transport meets the EU’s climate targets for 2030 and 2050 and plays a key role in delivering on the European Climate Law.
KEY POINTS
FuelEU maritime initiative
- The ‘FuelEU maritime’ regulation is a key part of the EU’s fit for 55 package of measures designed to deliver the European Green Deal. It aims to increase the demand for and consistent use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in the maritime sector, in the same way as Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 ‘refuelEU aviation’ (see summary) for the aviation sector. The regulation was adopted along with Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 (see summary) on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure.
- The rules put in place ensure that the greenhouse gas intensity of fuels used by the shipping sector will gradually decrease over time, by 2% in 2025 to as much as 80% by 2050.
- Among the fuels certified as contributing to the reduction in greenhouse gas intensity, the regulation mentions renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO), which have a high decarbonisation potential. It includes a special incentive to support the uptake of such fuels. Fossil fuels are excluded from the regulation’s certification process.
- From 2030, passenger ships and containers will be required to use an on-shore power supply for all electricity needs whilst moored at major EU ports to mitigate air pollution.
- A voluntary pooling mechanism permits ships to pool their compliance balance with one or more other ships – the pool, as a whole, must meet the greenhouse gas intensity limits on average.
- Time-limited exceptions are included, granting specific treatment for the EU’s outermost regions, small islands and areas that are economically highly dependent on their connectivity.
- Any revenues generated from penalties for non-compliance with the regulation must be used for projects in support of the maritime sector’s decarbonisation with an enhanced transparency mechanism.
- The regulation’s implementation is monitored through the European Commission’s reporting and review process.
FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?
The regulation applies from ,, with the exception of two articles related to the monitoring plan that apply from .
BACKGROUND
For further information, see:
- Fit for 55 – Increasing the uptake of greener fuels in the aviation and maritime sectors (Council of the European Union).
MAIN DOCUMENT
Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 of the European Parliament and of the Council of on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport, and amending Directive 2009/16/EC (OJ L 234, , pp. 48–100).
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