MOL and Shell to trial book-and-claim initiative to decarbonise shipping

Japan’s shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has teamed up with bunker supplier Shell Trading Rotterdam to pilot a book-and-claim approach aimed at lowering shipping emissions through Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs), generated from low-carbon fuel used on third-party vessels.

IMAGE: A flowchart of MOL and Shell’s book-and-claim initiative. MOL

In this model, emissions reductions achieved by using cleaner fuel on one vessel can be recorded and reassigned to another user without the fuel being physically delivered. These reductions are issued as EACs - tradable certificates that verify environmental benefits from low-carbon energy use.

As part of the trial, Shell substituted conventional fuel (VLSFO) with Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) biofuel on a ship outside MOL’s fleet. The vessel operator retained the emissions savings tied to its own operations, but gave up those linked to cargo owners.

However, the companies have not disclosed whether the supplied fuel was 100% biofuel or blended with conventional fuel.

Shell logged these additional emissions reductions in a registry managed by carbon insetting platform 123Carbon and transferred them to MOL. MOL then converted them into EACs, which it can provide to customers as evidence of reduced emissions in their shipping activities.

The initiative demonstrates that emissions savings from cleaner fuel, even when used on third-party ships, can be credibly tracked, transferred, and monetised.

It also underlines how book-and-claim systems can offer practical low-carbon options, enabling broader industry collaboration and making greener shipping more accessible across routes.

By Tuhin Roy

Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online