EU shipowners welcome inclusion of fuel suppliers in FuelEU Maritime
It is encouraging that the European Parliament and Council have considered binding fuel suppliers in the FuelEU Maritime regulation, the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) says.
PHOTO: EU flags outside the European Commission Building in Brussels, Belgium. Getty Images
On Thursday morning, the European Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets and amendments under the FuelEU Maritime regulation.
In recent months, ECSA has expressed support for the inclusion of fuel suppliers in the regulation. The group argued that shipowners should not be penalised when suppliers fail to deliver compliant sustainable marine fuel.
An amendment to include fuel suppliers in FuelEU Maritime was initially proposed by the European Parliament. Fuel suppliers will be liable to compensate shipowners or operators in case they fail to supply the fuel specified in the contract, according to Amendment 129 proposed by the European Parliament.
The European Parliament and Council have reached a provisional agreement on this amendment.
ECSA has also welcomed rules that mandate provision of onshore power supply for container ships and passenger ships at berth.
Danish Shipping, another shipowners group, has also expressed support for considering the use of a so-called "multiplier of 2" mechanism to reward companies that choose Renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs) until 2035. These are typically green hydrogen-based fuels.
In January, Danish Shipping along with 46 signatories called on policymakers to encourage and reward the first green fuel movers. "Introducing a multiplier mechanism should encourage the right market behaviours", it said.
The FuelEU Maritime proposal will now need formal approval from the European Council and Parliament. “The final vote in plenary could be around this summer,” the European Parliament spokesperson tells ENGINE.
By Nithin Chandran
Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online
