Freight News, Sea


ETS changes are step in right direction, says shipping group

[ July 17, 2026   //   ]

The World Shipping Council has welcomed revisions, published on 17 July, to the European Commission’s Emissions Trading Scheme saying that they will accelerate alternative maritime fuels and channel revenues back into shipping decarbonisation.

The proposed fuel mechanism for the maritime sector follows the policy logic already used in aviation by helping to close the price gap between conventional and alternative fuels. This will encourage uptake, support investment in production and position Europe as a leading alternative fuel bunkering hub, says WSC.

Vice President, Environment and Climate, Simon Bergulf, said: “Liner shipping has already invested over €160 billion in ships that can operate on renewable fuels, but these cleaner ships need cleaner fuels. Closing the price gap is one of the most practical ways to get those fuels into ships’ tanks.”

Sustainable maritime fuels can still cost from 100 to 400 percent more than conventional marine fuels, making the price gap one of the biggest barriers to uptake.

Reinvesting a significant share of ETS revenues in could also be used to strengthen European ports, including alternative fuel infrastructure and electrification.

WSC also welcomes recognition that the current ETS can make European ports more expensive and less competitive for non-EU cargo transhipped in Europe.

However, WSC is concerned by the Commission’s proposal to expand the transshipment list of neighbouring non-EU ports based on infrastructure alone. Ports within 150 nautical miles of the EU could be penalised simply because they have deep water, long berths and ship-to-shore cranes, regardless of whether transhipment is taking place.

“The ETS should be focused on cutting emissions, not making neighbouring non-EU ports less competitive,” Bergulf said.

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