EU ETS Compliance for Shipping
Since 2024, the EU ETS requires shipping companies to account for carbon emissions from voyages within the EU and between EU and international ports. Grey Epoch helps owners, managers and charterers - with a combined fleet of over 1,500 vessels - navigate their ETS obligations with clarity and confidence.
Trade allowances
Gain access to EUAs (EU Allowances) and UKAs (UK Allowances) across compliance periods with flexible trading sizes and delivery schedules.
Competitive pricing
Cost-efficient solutions to support your business needs: Forward Procurement, Price-Cap, Spot Trading, and Cash-Flow Optimisation.
Expert advice
Leverage our expertise in emission markets, surrender strategies, and regulatory updates to maintain smooth compliance and avoid penalties.
EU ETS Compliance Timeline for Shipping
Get your carbon allowances in two days
Compliance Solutions for Shipping
To help ship owners, managers and charterers adapt to these new regulations efficiently, Grey Epoch offers access to procurement and hedging solutions along with comprehensive support in navigating the emissions landscape.
Manage price volatility
Reduce exposure to market fluctuations with a fixed price.
Fix now, pay later
Defer the bulk of the fixed price for up to three years with a forward transaction.
Budget certainty
Secure your profits by locking in the price.
Most popular
Forward Purchase
Forward buying in the EU ETS allows shipping companies to lock in EU allowance prices by agreeing to buy EUAs at a future date without a large upfront payment.
Spot Trading
Purchase or sell EU allowances, with payment and delivery within five business days.
Spot trading enables immediate delivery and allows you to respond quickly to price movements, which can help optimise costs compared to longer-term strategies.
Cash Flow Optimisation
With our deferred payment solutions, you can lock in carbon allowance prices today and schedule delivery and payment at a later date.
This gives you the flexibility to meet compliance needs without tying up capital upfront.
Trading without MOHA
Opening a Union Registry Account can take months, while the need to procure EUAs might be imminent.
Grey Epoch provides access to solutions for companies that are waiting for their account to be opened or that do not want to open an account.
“I really appreciate the patience and professionalism displayed from day one. Grey Epoch offers hand-holding experience with detailed and precise explanation and excellent technical knowledge. I would say Grey Epoch is by far the best partner we have worked with in our emission trading experience.”
— EU ETS Shipping Operator with 100+ vessels
Take the Next Step
Prepare your shipping business for the challenges and opportunities presented by the EU & UK ETS.
Contact Grey Epoch today to learn more about our services and how we can help you navigate the regulatory landscape.
FAQs
-
The shipowner, such as a manager, holds the obligation for surrendering EUAs unless the ISM DOC holder has agreed in writing to take it on.
-
Ships over 5,000 GT operating in EU waters must monitor, report, and surrender allowances.
Ships over 400 GT must monitor and report, with surrendering obligations to be reviewed in 2026.
-
If your company has compliance obligations under the EU ETS for maritime emissions, you will need a Maritime Operator Holding Account (MOHA). This account is required to hold, receive, and surrender allowances for compliance purposes.
A Trading Account is optional and has the same functionality as the MOHA, with the exception of being able to surrender allowances.
Anybody can open a Trading Account, whereas a MOHA can only be opened by companies with a surrender obligation to an EU member state.
-
Yes, Grey Epoch can arrange transactions and deliver allowances directly to a third party or to your account once it is open.
-
Yes, EUAs can be transferred to other accounts, including those of your clients and counterparties.
-
A port of call is the port where a ship stops to load or unload cargo, to embark or disembark passengers, or where an offshore ship stops to relieve the crew.
Exclusions exists for refuelling and drydock, amongst other things.
-
Operators failing to surrender sufficient allowances face a penalty of €100 per tonne of CO₂ emissions not covered, plus liability to purchase the missing allowances retrospectively.
Repeat violations may result in vessel detainment or restrictions on port entry.
-
Emissions must be allocated to the period in which they occur.
Operators should track fuel use daily or per voyage segment to ensure accurate reporting for each reporting period.
-
The EU has expressed its intention to avoid double-charging for the same emissions.
No guidance has been set out, but EU ETS costs might act as a minimum price, with possible adjustments or discounts if IMO measures apply.
More clarity to be expected during the EU ETS 2026 review.
-
For the EU ETS, you must complete the following key tasks every year:
1 January: Start of the monitoring year.
31 March: Submit verified emissions report for the previous year.
30 September: Surrender the required allowances for the previous year.
