Norway delays FuelEU Maritime implementation again

FuelEU Maritime will not enter into force in Norway on 1 January 2026, the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) has said, as the necessary clarifications between the EEA-EFTA states and with the European Union were not completed in time.

IMAGE: Container terminal at the Norwegian Port of Oslo. Oslo Havn

The announcement revises earlier indications from the NMA that the regulation could potentially apply from the start of next year.

FuelEU Maritime, adopted earlier this year, sets binding greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity reduction targets for the energy used by ships calling at EU ports, with penalties for non-compliance and incentives designed to encourage early uptake of lower-emission fuels such as e-fuels, ammonia and hydrogen.

For FuelEU Maritime to apply in Norway, the regulation must be formally incorporated into the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement between the EU and the EEA-EFTA states. The EEA-EFTA states are Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

The NMA said it still expects FuelEU Maritime to enter into force later in 2026, but no specific date has been confirmed.

The latest announcement follows an earlier delay in December 2024 that pushed back implementation from a 1 January 2025 start date.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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