DNV: EU guideline for reporting and verifying actual methane slip for FuelEU, EU MRV/ETS
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Classification society DNV on Monday (17 November) published a statutory news highlighting the new EU guideline for the reporting and verification of actual methane slip under the FuelEU and MRV/ETS frameworks.
The verified emission factors may already be applied for the 2025 FuelEU Maritime reporting year and offer a strategic opportunity to positively impact compliance calculations – potentially lowering penalties and enhancing the financial viability of LNG-fuelled vessels:
FuelEU Maritime, EU MRV/ETS and methane slip
FuelEU Maritime aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity in shipping by promoting renewable and low-carbon fuels. It sets progressive emission reduction targets for ships over 5,000 GT calling at EU ports, covering CO₂, methane and nitrous oxide on a well-to-wake basis. The first FuelEU Maritime reporting period begins in 2025 and includes the GHG impact of methane slip emissions. Given methane’s global warming potential – 25 times that of CO₂ – it is essential to assess the actual methane slip performance of installed engines.
Methane slip must also be reported under the EU MRV regulation, and starting in 2026, it will fall within the scope of EU ETS. Shipping companies will then need to surrender allowances not only for CO₂ emissions but also for methane and nitrous oxide.
The benefits of reducing methane slip
Standard methane slip factors, as shown in Table 1, are based solely on the type of engine combustion. However, engine designers and manufacturers have introduced technical improvements that significantly reduce methane slip, with recent advancements – especially upgrade kits – delivering substantial improvements. For example, slow-speed LNG Otto engines can achieve slip rates as low as 0.7%, compared to a standard factor of 1.7% (see Table 1).
While this reduction may appear modest, its impact on compliance is substantial. Over the next decade, as compliance thresholds tighten, applying actual methane slip factors could translate into annual cost savings easily exceeding EUR 1 million for a 24,000 TEU container ship, as an example – highlighting the strategic and financial value of accurate methane slip verification.
Note: The full statutory news can be found here.
Photo credit: william william on Unsplash
Published: 20 November, 2025
