Steve Bee, Group Marketing and Strategic Projects Director, and Emilian Buksak, Decarbonisation Advisor of marine fuels testing company VPS, on Monday (7 April) explored how the company can support the shipping industry in transforming the challenges of environmental legislations into operational efficiencies and commercial benefits: 

As far back as 1981, long before the word “sustainable” was ever applied to the protection of the planet, VPS marine fuel quality testing (FQT) service was clearly focused on achieving a sustainable global shipping fleet. Even before the existence of any international marine fuel quality standard, VPS was testing fuel to ensure the protection of, vessel operations and engines, crew health & safety and the environment.

At present, global shipping is navigating its way on a voyage to decarbonisation and sustainability, with increasingly complex regulatory and legislative requirements being placed upon vessel owners and operators. In support of such requirements, digitalisation and the demand for immediate accurate data, along with the use of low-to-zero carbon fuels, are now necessities within shipping, as it strives to achieve numerous levels of compliance.

Today, VPS continues to provide market-leading testing and inspection services that support shipowners & operators to comply with and go beyond regulatory requirements, by extending the lifetime and usage of fuels and lube oils and indirectly that of the assets in which they’re employed. VPS testing and data solutions support vessel operators by providing comprehensive services that bridge the gap between complex regulations and practical, day-to-day operations.

Through fuel quality testing, VPS verifies a vessel’s fuel, be it fossil, bio-based or methanol, that it’s meeting current stringent specifications. By identifying quality issues early, operators avoid engine damage, unplanned downtime, and expensive retrofits. Even as new low-carbon fuels enter the market, VPS’s in-depth testing ensures every batch is “fit for purpose,” giving vessel operators confidence as these alternative fuels are being assessed. Through the test data generated VPS helps its customers gain the most value from their procured fuels.

Rigorous lubricant testing complements this, helping fine-tune equipment to maintain operational efficiency and reduce downtime. Additionally, VPS deploys emissions measurement equipment to gather accurate data crucial for both compliance reporting and operational insights.

Then, beyond testing and its associated data services, VPS offers decarbonisation software and advisory services spanning strategic decarbonisation planning, to vessel fuel performance optimization, including speed and power generation management, technical and operational efficiency initiatives, and even basic crew training. By pinpointing improvement areas across a vessel’s operating cycle, VPS helps reduce fuel consumption, lower emissions, and ultimately support operators’ transition to cleaner and more cost-effective operations.

But first let us look at the current legislative requirements and its challenges.

From the initial implementation of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) MARPOL Annex VI, coming into force on 19th May 2005, shipping has witnessed numerous levels of legislation being introduced to which vessels must comply.

Decarbonisation targets, are driven in the main by the IMO and its initial strategy for a reduction in the carbon intensity of international shipping (to reduce CO2 emissions across international shipping, by at least 40% by 2030, pursuing efforts towards 70% by 2050, compared to 2008) and that total annual GHG emissions from international shipping should be reduced by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008.

In 2023, IMO introduced a revision to its decarbonisation strategy, stating the carbon intensity of ships needs to decline through further improvement of the energy efficiency of new ships. Also, the need to strengthen the energy efficiency design requirements for ships, leading to a reduction in the carbon intensity of ships, so supporting the reduction of CO2 emissions by at least 40% by 2030, compared to 2008. Also, the uptake of zero or near-zero GHG emission technologies, fuels and/or energy sources to increase and represent at least 5%, striving for 10%, of the energy used by international shipping by 2030 and GHG emissions from international shipping to reach net zero by or around 2050.

This strategy revision introduced Indicative Checkpoints, to monitor the progress of the reduction of the total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 20%, striving for 30%, by 2030, compared to 2008 and the reduction of the total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 70%, striving for 80%, by 2040, compared to 2008.

The IMO GHG strategy is supported by:

CII - Carbon Intensity Index, which determines the annual reduction factor needed to ensure continuous improvement of a ship's operational carbon intensity within a specific rating level. The ratings go from an inferior performance level – E, to the major superior level – A. Measuring the CO₂ emitted per cargo-carrying capacity per nautical mile, CII incorporates, speed optimization, biofouling management and alternative fuels usage.

Each year it becomes more difficult for a ship to improve its CII rating. But the best performing vessels are likely to trade at a premium.

Since 2024, the CII must be calculated and reported to the Data Collection System Verifier along with the previous year’s aggregated DCS data. This must include any correction factors or voyage adjustments. The deadline for DCS and CII submission is no later than 31 March each year.

The attained annual operational CII and the environmental rating (A to E) is noted on the DCS Statement of Compliance (SoC), which is required to be kept on board for five years.

In case of a D rating for three consecutive years or one E rating, the Ships Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) Part III must be updated with a corrective action plan and verified before the SoC can be issued. The corrective action plan should consist of an analysis of why the required CII was not achieved and include a revised implementation plan.

It is worth noting at this point that the use of low-carbon fuels such as LNG, Bio-LNG, Biofuels and Methanol, offer immediate emissions reductions, which will significantly assist vessels improve their CII ratings and comply with the tightening regulations.

For over four years VPS have led the market in the understanding of marine biofuels and methanol. VPS laboratories have undertaken significant R&D work regarding innovative testing technologies and methods, to assist in improved fuel management and environmental compliance. Between 2021-2024 VPS tested samples equating to over 1.6million mt of delivered biofuels. This work has covered bio-components such as the most common FAME, plus HVO, Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) and Tyre Pyrolysis Oil (TPO). Such experience and expertise are then passed on to VPS customers to enhance their understanding of such fuels and achieve the emissions reduction and efficiency improvements required.

Note: The full article by VPS can be read here.

Photo credit: VPS
Published: 8 April, 2025

While regulations are important, implementing practical technological solutions and maintaining high-quality data are crucial for successful decarbonisation in the maritime industry, believes the Chief Operating Officer of maritime technology solutions provider ZeroNorth.

“It takes is a combination of not only regulation but also good technology because if you choose more regulation without good solutions it can end up with more bureaucracy and actually less execution,” stated Anders Schulze during the Meeting the Challenges of IMO 2030 panel discussion session at Sea Asia 2025.

Compared to two years ago, Schulze observed a significant increase in willingness from shipowners, operators and charterers to roll up their sleeves and implement solutions for FuelEU and EU ETS.

“Two years ago, it was a lot of PowerPoints and long-term planning, and people were adopting a ‘wait and see’ attitude. Right now, people are doing something about it and craving solutions,” he said.

“What we're seeing from operators day-to-day is a willingness to get these solutions right at their fingertips.

“They really want to be empowered with solutions where they can check mark, track regulatory requirements and compliance tasks to support day-to-day workflows.”

However, Schulze pointed out while it is a thing to adapt to new regulations, it is another to adapt to new technologies for implementing these regulations.

“Reading a lot of reports, trying to stitch a solution together with spreadsheets is just not going to do the trick. You've got to implement good technologies that are talking together,” he explained.

“A phrase we're hearing is garbage in, garbage out, and this is even more important now than ever in this era of Generative AI. But the reality is that if you don't have good data, you can't really use Generative AI for a whole lot of things,

“What we're doing now with our customers is to help them cleanse the data and create a data health score for their company.

“Last year, we saw an improvement of 60% and there's a clear correlation with tangible results, such as taking better chartering decisions, reducing expenditure on bunker fuel, and reduction of fines from lack of compliance.

“Having good data, which also offers competitive advantages, is a prerequisite for surviving the future.”

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 3 April 2025

Classification society DNV recently shared a summary of key deadlines and activities in 2025 related to key regulations for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The following is an excerpt from the news update:

Decarbonization is a top priority for ship owners. While the EU MRV and IMO DCS have become routine, new regulations such as the EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime present uncharted territory for many. Below is a summary of the key regulations and required actions for 2025:

EU MRV

To comply with EU MRV requirements, ship managers must ensure accurate emissions data and promptly submit their reports for verification by an accredited verifier. Once verified, managers are required to submit the reports to the THETIS-MRV system.

Deadlines in 2025:

• Submission (to verifier, DNV): 21 February (in which case DNV guarantees verification before the deadline)
• Verification: 31 March

EU ETS Company Emissions Report

The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) Company Emissions Report is a crucial part of the compliance process for companies regulated under the EU ETS. This data is based on EU MRV emissions data for 2024. Some key points:

To create the EU ETS Company Emissions Report, all vessel emissions reports need to be verified and submitted to THETIS (this must be done prior to the submission of the EU ETS Company Emissions Report). Companies are also required to submit a report of their company emissions for the previous calendar year.

Companies are also required to surrender their EU ETS Allowances equivalent to their verified emissions.

The verification process shall ensure the accuracy and reliability of the reported data. Accredited verifiers, such as DNV, will check the emissions reports to confirm their correctness.

Deadlines in 2025:

• Submission of the verified Company Emissions Report: 31 March 2025. This deadline is for both ship and company emissions. Early submission is recommended.
• Surrender of the due EU ETS Allowances (from the Maritime Operator Holding Account (MOHA) holder in the EU ETS Union Registry): 30 September 2025.

Important note: DNV will provide EU ETS Company Emissions Report verification, and we will shortly follow up with more information in the My Services portal on Veracity on how to order the verification and how to upload the documents to THETIS-MRV.

FuelEU Maritime

Vessels trading in the EU/EEA* already have an approved FuelEU Maritime Monitoring Plan on board (deadline: 1 January 2025). There are no further deadlines for 2025, but DNV strongly encourages every affected company to take immediate action:

• Establish a strategy to minimize the cost of compliance.
• Review and update the commercial contracts between the technical manager/ISM company and ship owner – trusted data are crucial to manage financials and commercial management.
• Ensure the implementation of clear terms in commercial charter contracts that define the specific roles and responsibilities of all parties in compliance with the FuelEU Maritime regulations.
• For vessel pooling, it is important to note that if the legal declaration of pooling is made the year following the reporting period, most commercial decisions will need to be finalized during the 2025 charter negotiations.

Deadline in 2025:

• Continuous reporting and data verification for the EU MRV throughout 2025

*Note: The EEA EFTA countries Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein are not yet part of the FuelEU Maritime due to delays in the process; implementation is expected shortly.

Partial FuelEU Emissions Report

The partial FuelEU Emissions Report is required when there is a change of company managing a ship (see Appendix in the pdf for more information). It should be noted that both the EU MRV and IMO DCS have specific requirements regarding changes of company. These requirements are detailed in the FAQ sections of the references listed below. DNV will offer partial FuelEU Emissions Reports from the end of Q1 2025 (THETIS functionalities are still under development).

IMO DCS Fuel Oil Consumption Report (FOCR)

The aggregated DCS data form the basis for the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) rating and the SEEMP Part III. Data quality and an efficient, digital system are key.

Deadline in 2025:

• Verified FOCR reporting: 31 May 2025

Note: DNV’s full summary of key deadlines and activities in 2025 related to key regulations can be found here. 

Photo credit: william william on Unsplash
Published: 12 February, 2025