News / Red tape and emissions trading: ETS hits non-EU shipowners hard

© Andrii Yalanskyi

Asian shipowners are likely to be hit the hardest by the cost of the EU ETS, with companies registered in China and Singapore bearing the highest burden. 

ETS management platform OceanScore estimated that, once the EU Emissions Trading System was fully implemented, in 2026, shipowners operating voyages to Europe would face emissions liabilities of over €1bn.  

The EU ETS came into effect on 1 January, requiring vessel owners to buy EU allowances (EUAs) that correspond with the per-tonne carbon emissions of ...