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With the adoption of the IMO Net-Zero Framework delayed and political consensus uncertain, regulatory fragmentation becomes a real risk. Regulatory pressure will and in fact is already reappearing elsewhere. The EU has already moved ahead with EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime. The UK is extending its own emissions trading scheme to shipping. African countries have or are implementing national carbon tax schemes.

Wind-assisted propulsion is usually discussed as a straightforward efficiency measure. The vessel consumes less fuel, emissions decrease, EU ETS exposure is reduced, and the FuelEU Maritime GHG intensity calculation benefits from the regulatory reward factor for wind assistance. From a technical and environmental perspective, the direction of travel appears clear. From a commercial FuelEU Maritime perspective, however, the calculation is more nuanced.

The UK ETS extension to shipping starts on 1 July 2026. This article explains scope, responsible entities, monitoring plans, reporting, verification, allowance surrender and contractual risks for maritime operators.

Discover our special mini series for the IMO International Day for Women in Maritime, featuring conversations on leadership, mentorship, authenticity, and the future of women in shipping.

Today, pooling is widely recognised as a reliable compliance mechanism under FuelEU Maritime. In most commercial discussions, the underlying assumption is that once a pool is agreed, it will be executed. This assumption deserves closer investigation. In practice, pooling is not a single step but a multi-stage process with dependencies and hard deadlines. The successful execution of a pool requires that each of these steps is completed correctly and in sequence by all pool par

FuelEU Maritime is now transitioning from a phase of preparation into one of execution. Over the first compliance year, market participants have developed compliance strategies based on assumptions. Surplus positions were modelled, pooling arrangements were structured, and commercial transactions were entered into on the expectation that these structures would translate into regulatory outcomes once the FuelEU Database and its operational framework became operational. With th

Borrowing under FuelEU Maritime is often described in market discussions as a convenient fallback option. The narrative is simple: if a pool does not work out or surplus cannot be sourced at an acceptable price, the vessel can simply borrow compliance from the following year. This narrative is misleading. Borrowing is not designed as a universal safety net, and in many practical situations it cannot even cover the deficit of a single conventional vessel. In addition, the regu

BetterSea is proud to announce that seven recognitions have been awarded to our team in the Top 100 Women in Shipping 2025, published in the 7th edition of All About Shipping’s prestigious annual rankings.