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MRV and DCS: On track for greener shipping, says DNV GL

Monitoring fuel consumption and CO2 emissions ‘first step’ towards GHG reduction from ships.
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The following article explaining the role of the European Union (EU) Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) and the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) Data Collection System (DCS) in promoting green shipping is written by classification society DNV GL:

Just a few days before the landmark International Maritime Organization (IMO) London conference, the chances of an agreement to control shipping’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions looked unlikely. But then, ironically on Friday 13 April, the members of the Maritime Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) reached a consensus: by 2050 shipping would cut its GHG emissions by at least 50 per cent from 2008 levels. This was the first time emission targets were set for global ocean shipping.

Commercial shipping is getting greener. Both the EU and the IMO are committed to reducing noxious maritime emissions. However, to get a reliable data basis about climate-affecting exhaust gases, a legally binding framework must be established to collect and evaluate relevant information. To that end the EU, and shortly thereafter the IMO, implemented two similar albeit separate regimes: the EU’s Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) of CO2 Emissions regulation ((EU) 2015/757), and the IMO’s Data collecting system on fuel consumption of ships (DCS).

Streamlined reporting service

The primary goal of both regulatory frameworks is to monitor maritime fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The aggregated information may eventually be used to cut emissions through a fee scheme, such as emission certificate trading. The EU MRV focuses on ships entering or leaving European ports, whereas the IMO system covers emissions from global shipping.

Implementing these regulations is technically complex. DNV GL stands ready to support owners and operators as a reliable and competent partner in both roles: as an accredited verifier for the EU MRV system or as a Recognized Organization (RO) authorized to verify compliance with the IMO DCS on behalf of several flag states. As Sven Dudszus, Head of Section EU Product Certification at DNV GL – Maritime, points out, “DNV GL offers its verification service independently from a ship’s classification society to make the process as smooth as possible. For practical purposes we recommend using the same verifier for EU MRV and IMO DCS. If a customer uses another class society for statutory certificates, the flag must accept that another RO is used for DCS.”

In effect since 31 August of last year, the MRV regulation requires shipowners to submit a Monitoring Plan, a complete and transparent description of the method used to determine the CO2 emissions of each vessel from 5,000 GT upwards, similar to the IMO scheme. “All in all some 10,000 ships with continuous EU trades are subject to the EU MRV,” says Dudszus. DNV GL has prepared roughly 50 per cent of these documents to date. “This is a great mark of confidence on the part of our customers who benefit from the fact that we are the only verifier in the market to offer the plan review and the emission report for a specified time period as a single-package solution.”

Ensuring data integrity

The first MRV reporting period started at the beginning of this year. The aggregated ship emission and efficiency data will be published by the EC every year, starting on 30 June 2019. The IMO DCS process will be launched in January 2019. By that time every ship must present proof of the applied method; the IMO stipulates an updated SEEMP, Part II. The RO or flag state will issue annual DCS statements of compliance to shipowners by 31 May.

DNV GL will provide an electronic reporting form through the My Services customer portal in Veracity. Customers can then submit the completed form to DNV GL for approval of SEEMP Part II. To minimize the effort involved in the reporting process for shipowners and operators, DNV GL covers both the EU MRV and the IMO DCS processes in one tool. Single-source data verification for both annual emission reports is the most common-sense approach, especially for vessels operating on both European and non-European global trades, or changing their region of deployment. Ships can use existing infrastructure on board to capture some of the required information, such as fuel consumption data which is routinely collected anyway.

Data plausibility is checked in a fully digitalized process, making sure the content and reporting parameters comply with the EU and IMO rules and requirements. Data integrity is of the essence. Since many performance and status data points cannot be read electronically but must be logged manually, errors can occur. DNV GL provides specialized tools to help customers check the information prior to transmission.

Defining an interface is all that needs to be done to enable transfer of the data. “We have appointed an Interface Manager who will assist customers in implementing an effective reporting system upon request,” says Dudszus. The choice is between automated system-to-system data uploads or manual transmission of fuel consumption data. DNV GL customers subscribing to the ECO Insight service are already covered for their MRV and DCS reporting duties.

DNV GL recommends customers to report their data throughout the year instead of filing a cumulative report at year’s end. This will allow DNV GL to perform continuous data quality checks so that by the end of the year all data have been screened for completeness and plausibility.

Operators can upload the annual emission report to the EMSA THETIS database stipulated by the EU, which will be verified by DNV GL. The DCS data will be uploaded to the IMO database either by DNV GL as a designated RO or by the flag state.

DNV GL verifies the data received, whether overall fuel consumption data, log abstracts or fuel balance details (e.g. bunker delivery notes), in an automated process, avoiding time-consuming visits at the ship manager’s office for verification or physical documentation. “Our processes will be optimized continuously. Working closely with our customers we will provide the smartest solution in the market,” says Dudszus.

Source: DNV GL
Published: 28 November, 2018
 

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Alternative Fuels

IMO holds course to equip new generation of trainers for green bunker fuels transition

Course is equipping a new generation of trainers with the knowledge and tools needed to support the global transition to low and zero-carbon marine fuels.
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July 17, 2025

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IMO holds course to equip new generation of trainers for green bunker fuels transition

International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Wednesday (16 July) said its GreenVoyage2050 Programme and the German development agency GIZ, through its International Power-to-X (PtX) Hub, have been running their first joint Training-of-Trainers course on renewable PtX fuels for shipping from 14 to 18 July. 

The course is equipping a new generation of trainers with the knowledge and tools needed to support the global transition to low and zero-carbon fuels in the maritime sector. 

Participants are engaging in interactive sessions covering topics such as the impact of shipping on the climate, emerging fuel technologies, the role of ports in the energy transition, and strategies to decarbonise national fleets. 

As part of the hands-on methodology, participants are also practicing how to deliver selected training modules themselves and receive feedback to strengthen their facilitation skills and adapt content to national contexts. 

More than 20 participants from around the world are attending the course, held at IMO Headquarters in London. The course is part of a growing partnership between IMO and International PtX Hub, aimed at supporting developing countries prepare for a cleaner and more sustainable future in shipping. 

Power-to-X converts renewable electricity from wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal sources into sustainable fuels such as green hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, and renewable marine diesel — all with potential to support the decarbonisation of shipping. 

Astrid Dispert, GreenVoyage2050 Programme Manager at IMO, said: “This programme is a critical enabler for cascading renewable PtX knowledge to national actors in the maritime sector. The shared learning and interactive methodology will empower our trainers to deliver impactful workshops that support the green shipping transition worldwide. We are building a community of trainers who can help share this knowledge across the world.”

Philipp Wittrock, Lead Shipping & Country Outreach, International PtX Hub, said: “The training modules, co-created with the IMO, now offer a solid tool for scaling capacity development at the nexus of energy and shipping – a key area for climate action. By training experts from different countries, we are helping to turn global ambition into local action. These new trainers will now support their own countries to prepare for the future of shipping.” 

All trainers participating in the course had previously completed a foundational course on renewable fuels. They will now be equipped to deliver tailored national workshops, contributing to broader efforts under the IMO’s GreenVoyage2050 Programme and the International PtX Hub’s efforts to promote clean energy solutions globally.

 

Photo credit: International Maritime Organization
Published: 17 July 2025

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Digital platform

Days of making bunker decisions in isolation are over, says ZeroNorth MD

Nicolai Bendixen, Managing Director of ZeroNorth Bunker tackles fragmentation in bunkering by sharing his view on the strategic direction to make it a fully integrated part of shipping operations.

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July 15, 2025

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Days of making bunker decisions in isolation are over, says ZeroNorth MD

Nicolai Bendixen, Managing Director of ZeroNorth Bunker on Friday (11 July) shared his view on the strategic direction to make bunkering a fully integrated part of shipping operations:

Traditionally, bunker procurement has been treated as a transaction – often disconnected from the operational, commercial, and environmental realities of shipping. But with intensifying regulations and increasingly complex fuel markets, this fragmented approach exposes companies to inefficiencies, rising costs, and compliance risks.

Since his appointment in 2024, Bendixen has led the development of a new strategy focused on transforming bunkering into an integrated, data-driven part of shipping operations – one that connects fuel buying directly to operational performance, commercial strategy, and emissions impact.

“The days of making bunker decisions in isolation are over,” says Bendixen. “We’re operating in an environment where every fuel decision has consequences – for cost, for emissions, and for operational performance.”

A growing challenge for operators

The complexity facing ship operators today is unprecedented. Fuel remains the industry’s single largest operating cost, but pricing is volatile, supplier networks are fragmented, and new regulations are fundamentally reshaping bunkering requirements. At the same time, the industry is under pressure to cut emissions, optimise performance, and manage multiple fuel types – from conventional bunkers to alternatives like LNG, methanol and biofuels.

“These are not isolated decisions,” Bendixen explains. “You can’t separate bunkering from voyage planning, from emissions reporting, or from your commercial strategy. But most of the tools in the market still treat them as separate processes.”

An integrated approach

ZeroNorth is closing this gap by embedding bunkering into its fuel optimisation ecosystem. Through the ZeroNorth platform, bunker procurement, planning, performance data, and emissions management are being connected – enabling operators to make informed, holistic decisions.

“Bunker procurement is part of a bigger operational puzzle,” says Bendixen. “Our role is to give operators the tools to solve it in real time – with data, with automation, and with alignment to both commercial and sustainability goals.”

ZeroNorth’s bunker products have already evolved significantly since the company entered the bunker space in 2022. Following the integration of ClearLynx and Prosmar Bunkering, the company has streamlined digital procurement tools, scaled its electronic Bunker Delivery Note (eBDN) solution across global ports. Over 95% of pricing volume is now automated, helping reduce manual workload and improve pricing accuracy.

Towards autonomous bunker management

Bendixen’s ultimate goal is what ZeroNorth calls “Autonomous Bunker Management.”

“The complexity will only increase,” he says. “More fuel types, more suppliers, more regulations – operators can’t manage that with disconnected systems. We believe the future lies in intelligent, connected environments where procurement, planning, and compliance are automated and aligned.”

This vision involves building AI-driven systems capable of continuously learning from operational data, predicting optimal procurement strategies, and executing transactions with minimal manual intervention. Work is already underway on autonomous planning capabilities, smart claim detection, and enhanced pricing indices designed to support greater transparency and reliability across the bunker market.

Importantly, Bendixen stresses that ZeroNorth’s approach is designed to complement – not replace – existing procurement models. The company provides technology that enables informed decision-making, whether operators manage procurement in-house or through trusted partners.

“Procurement will always involve relationships, but it needs to be underpinned by data, automation, and alignment to operational realities,” Bendixen concludes. “That’s how we move beyond fragmented decisions – and towards a future where fuel procurement helps drive both commercial performance and decarbonisation.”

 

Photo credit: ZeroNorth
Published: 15 July, 2025

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Mass Flowmeter

TFG Marine installs first ISO-certified mass flow meter on US Gulf bunkering barge

Aims to equip 90% of its global bunkering fleet with MFMs by 2026.
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July 14, 2025

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TFG Marine installs first MFM MT

TFG Marine on Friday (11 July) said it has reached a key milestone in its global digitalisation programme with the installation of an ISO 22192-compliant mass flow meter (MFM) on the Buffalo 404, a barge on time charter from American bunker barge company Buffalo Marine Service Inc.

This is the first ISO-certified MFM-equipped bunkering barge operating in the US Gulf, setting a new benchmark for transparency, accuracy and operational efficiency in marine fuel delivery across the region, it notes.

The installation is part of TFG Marine’s wider strategy to equip close to 90% of its global bunkering fleet with MFMs by 2026 as a commitment towards improving data integrity, streamlining operations and strengthening trust in marine fuel transactions.

“Our continued investment in mass flow meter technology underlines our commitment to leading the modernisation of marine fuel supply chains,” said Kenneth Dam, Global Head of Bunkering at TFG Marine.

“I’m proud that more than 60% of our barge fleet already deploys mass flow meters, and we continue to build on this.

“By ensuring greater accuracy in delivered quantities and eliminating manual measurement discrepancies, we’re helping to create a more transparent, reliable and efficient bunkering process for shipowners and operators globally.”

 

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 14 July 2025

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