Maritime technology solutions provider ZeroNorth on Friday (16 May) said it has partnered with Veracity by DNV to launch a fully integrated emissions reporting and verification service for the maritime industry. 

Teekay is the first customer that will be implementing the service across its fleet, following successful testing and development.

As regulatory requirements tighten, ZeroNorth said maritime operators face growing demands for emissions transparency and reporting integrity. At the same time, poor data quality remains an industry-wide challenge. 

“The new offering combines ZeroNorth’s Vessel Reporting and Emissions Analytics platform with the Veracity platform and DNV’s Emissions Connect verification services to deliver an end-to-end compliance solution,” the company said in a statement. 

“The offering simplifies compliance by integrating automated data reporting with expert validation, reducing administrative burdens and improving data reliability.”

A key differentiator is the multi-layered data quality feedback loop, which ensures emissions data undergoes rigorous validation at multiple stages. Verification warnings from Veracity by DNV are automatically flagged to ZeroNorth’s data quality team, which then works directly with vessel crews to resolve discrepancies before final submission to authorities. 

This reduces compliance risks and enhances regulatory confidence while supporting continuous monitoring of EU MRV, IMO DCS, CII ratings, EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime compliance.

Teekay, a long-standing customer of ZeroNorth, participated in early testing of the solution and providing operational feedback. Since its successful implementation with Teekay, the service has been rolled out to two additional customers, and further deployments are underway.

Anders Schulze, Chief Operations Officer at ZeroNorth, said: “The maritime industry faces growing pressure to ensure emissions data is not just reported, but verified to the highest standards. Yet fragmented systems and manual processes continue to undermine data quality and increase compliance risk. 

“By combining ZeroNorth’s data and analytics capabilities with Veracity by DNV’s verification expertise, we are directly addressing this challenge. Our goal is to build trust in emissions data and reduce complexity for shipowners and charterers. We’re especially pleased that Teekay, a long-time partner, played a central role in shaping and validating the service.”

Mikkel Skou, Managing Director at Veracity by DNV, said: “At Veracity by DNV, the value of our ecosystem is built on strong partnerships, exemplified by our collaboration with ZeroNorth.

“By integrating trusted data and solutions like ZeroNorth’s Vessel Reporting and Emissions Analytics platform, we create a robust network that supports collaboration and drives sustainable growth in the maritime industry. 

“We look forward to continuing working towards our ambition to deliver trust and connectivity to the industry through this partnership with ZeroNorth.”

Mikkel Seidelin, Chief Commercial Officer at Teekay, said: “Partnering with ZeroNorth improves our ability to navigate complexities seamlessly, leveraging on data and technology to optimise our performance and reduce inefficiencies.

“When we are equipped with verified, end-to-end data, it empowers us as owners towards seamless decision-making, resulting in real sustainable and operational target-achievements.”

Photo credit: ZeroNorth
Published: 16 May, 2025

Energy company Gasum on Friday (9 May) said it has reached an agreement with ship owner Bernhard Schulte that Gasum’s chartered bunker vessel Kairos will run on waste-based bio-LNG and join Gasum’s FuelEU Maritime pool as a compliance generator.

As Kairos’ charterer and as an established bio-LNG producer and distributor, the company said it is able to guarantee significant emission reductions to the pool. 

“Gasum manages the pool, supplies the ultra-low emission bio-LNG and offers over-compliance to shipping companies with under-compliant vessels,” it said. 

Jacob Granqvist, Vice President, Maritime, Gasum, said: “This step makes it even simpler for us to ensure the needed emission reductions to our pool at all times.”

According to expert estimates there will be much more compliance deficit than there is surplus on offer at the end of 2025, which makes this all the more important.”

Christian Breuel, Managing Director Tankers, Bernhard Schulte, said: “We are very pleased that Gasum, as charterer, has made the decision to use bio-LNG and that the ‘Kairos’ will thus reduce its carbon footprint even further. We need joint efforts and solutions to decarbonise shipping.”

FuelEU Maritime is a European Union regulation established to increase the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels and limit greenhouse gas emissions. Starting 2025 vessel owners need to reduce the carbon intensity of purchased fuel initially by two percent with the required reduction growing incrementally to as much as 80% by 2050.

To promote use of low carbon fuels and to make compliance easier for shipping companies, FuelEU Maritime permits the voluntary pooling of emission reductions between vessels. This means, that vessels that are over-compliant can compensate emissions on behalf of under-compliant vessels, in other words, provide compliance as a service.

Gasum added liquefied biomethane, bio-LNG, is a fully renewable and environmentally friendly fuel with life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions that are, on average, 90% lower when compared with fossil fuel use. Biogas can be used in all the same applications as natural gas.

Photo credit: Gasum
Published: 13 May, 2025

As of 1 May 2025, the Mediterranean Sea has effectively become an Emission Control Area (ECA) for sulphur oxides (SOx) under MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14, followed by both the Canadian Arctic and the Norwegian Sea ECA for SOx and PM taking effect on 1 March 2027.

Julie Nielsen, Global Head of Bunker Sales at StormGeo, shared with Singapore-based bunkering publication Manifold Times on the implications of the new and upcoming ECAs to the bunker market, her recommendation to navigate the development of new ECAs in a digital era, and the role StormGeo could play in being part of the digital transition to overcome new regulations like ECAs:

MT: The Mediterranean Sea and two upcoming ECAs will raise the total number of global ECAs to seven. What are the implications of these ECAs to the overall bunker market including fuel prices? 

This new ECA area marks a significant shift in the global regulatory landscape. As you mention, the total number of ECAs globally will rise to seven, signalling an intensified commitment to environmental protection and emissions reduction, which is good for our environment. However, the complexity of operating a vessel will increase significantly to navigate fuel sourcing and compliance, as these ECA areas are not connected. This means that a vessel may be sailing in and out of ECA multiple times on a voyage and with the limited tank availability on board the vessel and the shifting between grades, it will be a challenge for every operator and Master.

It will create regional fluctuations in bunker prices, especially in the Mediterranean where the implementation is imminent. Ports that are well-equipped to handle compliant fuels and have strong refining infrastructure may see a competitive advantage, whereas others may struggle with supply constraints, leading to price volatility and potential bottlenecks.

In the short term, bunker costs are expected to rise for vessels operating in or near the new ECAs due to the premium on low-sulphur fuels. However, this also reinforces the industry’s direction towards cleaner alternatives, and may further accelerate the shift to LNG, methanol, biofuels, and other emerging fuels—especially in regions with strong environmental regulation.

The scrubber fitted vessels may however benefit from this new regulation, as the cost differential between 0.1% and 3.5% fuel likely will increase. The question is though, if the suppliers will change their infrastructure and leave 3.5% sulphur out, to make space for 0.1%.

MT: How will these ECAs affect bunker fuel switching operations? Do you think frequent fuel switching operations will raise operational, safety and legal issues?

There’s no doubt that yet another ECA area, not connected to the remaining areas, will have a huge impact on how to plan and buy bunkers, how the vessel treats the bunkers, and how they burn the bunkers on board.

The ECA areas are not connected leading to a vessel potentially sailing in and out of multiple ECA areas on one voyage. This is naturally resulting in extra work for the crew on board, as they have to adhere to MARPOL ensuring that once they enter the restricted area, then they have fully changed to compliant fuel. There’s a risk of contamination of the fuel, human errors and heat and temperature control, just to name a few, and this of course also risks the safety and the legal issues coming with these risks.

So there is no doubt that the increase of complexity will rise, and every operator and chief engineer need to take the right decision on bunker planning at all times, to ensure smooth operation.

MT: Once the Mediterranean Sea becomes a MED SECA, what do you forecast for the shift in Mediterranean bunker fuel demand for VLSFO, HSFO, ULSFO, MGO and other alternative marine fuels? Could the same shift in demand apply to the Canadian Arctic and the Norwegian Sea once the ECAs come into full force there too?

It’s hard to say with certainty, but I would be surprised if the MED SECA doesn’t impact bunker fuel demand in the region. Interestingly, we’re seeing a comeback of ULSFO, which had largely faded with the rise of VLSFO after IMO 2020. With stricter sulphur limits, ULSFO may regain a foothold, and it will be interesting to see how infrastructure adapts to support this shift.

HSFO availability could decline, especially since only around 15% of the global fleet is currently scrubber-fitted. While that percentage will grow with newbuilds, it’s still a relatively small share, meaning demand for HSFO in ECAs is likely to remain limited.

Meanwhile, alternative fuels like biofuels, LNG, methanol, and ammonia are gaining momentum. The market now sees demand for more than eight different fuel grades – more than ever before. However, infrastructure and refinery capacity are not scaling at the same pace, which could become a bottleneck or even lead to certain fuels being phased out in specific regions.

Ultimately, these shifts point to a broader transformation in fuel supply chains and storage strategies – not just in the Mediterranean, but also in the Canadian Arctic and Norwegian Sea as those ECAs come into force, and potentially in ARA as well.

MT: Since we are in the digital era, what strategies do you recommend for shipping companies and bunker buyers to navigate the development of new ECAs? 

In the digital era, proactive planning and real-time visibility are essential for navigating the increasing complexity of ECAs. At StormGeo, we recommend a data-driven, integrated approach that helps shipping companies and bunker buyers stay compliant, optimise costs, and reduce risk. The time where you could handle your bunker planning and procurement with pen and paper, or if you were very advanced – excelsheet, is over.

Operators need to use solutions that can simulate different route scenarios and fuel consumption profiles, factoring in ECA zones, weather, and fuel availability. This helps operators make smarter routing and procurement decisions – balancing compliance and cost-efficiency.

Additionally, companies should choose to have a procurement platform that provides price transparency, availability insights, and quality data for compliant fuels at key ports – helping them align procurement with their operational and regulatory needs. Further, as environmental regulations tighten, having digital systems that track fuel consumption and emissions across voyages will be vital – not just for compliance, but for ESG reporting and future carbon pricing schemes.

MT: Do you foresee any challenges for this digital transition and what solutions can StormGeo provide to solve these issues?

The biggest challenge I see in this digital transition is the hesitation to break old habits. I’ve been there, as a former operator and bunker purchaser – I know how intimidating it can feel to suddenly have full transparency into your performance. But I also know from experience that transparency is the key to optimising the largest cost driver in OPEX: bunkers.

Many still believe optimisation happens primarily in the procurement phase, when in fact, the greatest opportunity lies in planning. And with the increasing number of new regulations like ECAs, digital planning and procurement is without a doubt the only sustainable way forward.

StormGeo is uniquely positioned to support this transition. Our platform offers one of the most advanced planning tools in the market, accounting for factors such as tank capacity, speed/consumption curves, fuel availability, ECA regulations, and vessel-specific technical limitations – calculating optimised bunker plans daily.

StormGeo end-to-end bunker management platform

This planning module is seamlessly integrated with a sophisticated procurement system that delivers real-time prices, manages preferred supplier/trader/broker lists, handles claims, includes a fuel testing module, generates reports, and even automates communications to all counterparties involved in a bunker chain.

By bringing everything into a single, connected platform, StormGeo empowers operators and bunker buyers to stay ahead of regulatory complexity, improve cost efficiency, and free up time to focus on higher-value tasks.

Additionally, our environmental solutions manage the evolving challenges around environmental regulation, and we are actively working on linking these capabilities into our Bunker Management solution.

By bringing everything into a single, connected platform, StormGeo empowers operators and bunker buyers to stay ahead of regulatory complexity, improve cost efficiency, and free up time to focus on higher-value tasks.

Related: DNV: New ECAS for the Canadian Arctic, Norwegian Sea and North-East Atlantic Ocean

Photo credit: StormGeo
Published: 2 May, 2025