Maritime CO2 Emissions: Real Obligations for Shipping Companies in European Ports

Key data

Shipping companies operating in European ports have a clear and binding obligation: measure, report, and verify their CO2 emissions. The amendment published on 3 September 2026 under reference CELEX:32015R0757R(03) corrects technical or linguistic errors in Regulation (EU) 2015/757, but does not modify any substantive obligations. This means that the compliance framework remains intact and fully enforceable.

For executives and operations managers of shipping companies, the message is direct: if your fleet includes vessels over 5,000 gross tonnes calling at ports in the European Economic Area, you fall within the scope of this regulation and must comply with all monitoring, reporting, and verification requirements.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation (EU) 2015/757 is the cornerstone of the European monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) system for CO2 emissions in maritime transport. This amendment—the third correction to the text—remedies technical or linguistic errors without altering substantive obligations.

The obligations that remain in force and unchanged are as follows:

The amendment published in September 2026 introduces no new burdens and does not modify thresholds, deadlines, or procedures. Its scope is exclusively technical: correcting drafting or translation errors in the original text.

Economic and operational impact

Although this amendment does not generate direct new costs, it is worth recalling the real operational impact of Regulation (EU) 2015/757 for affected shipping companies:

• Verification costs: Engaging accredited verifiers to approve the monitoring plan and validate the annual report represents a recurring expense for each vessel in the fleet operating in the EEA.
• Monitoring system costs: Shipping companies must have reliable systems to record fuel consumption per voyage, which may require investment in technology and training.
• Risk of sanctions: Non-compliance with reporting obligations can result in financial penalties, the specific amount of which is not specified in this amendment but is regulated by Member States.
• Risk of expulsion from European ports: In cases of repeated non-compliance, competent authorities may prohibit the vessel from entering EEA ports. This is the most severe operational risk for a shipping company with European routes.

Reputational impact is also relevant: major shippers and industrial customers increasingly demand transparency in the carbon footprint of their maritime supply chains. Not having verified reports can result in loss of contracts.

Who does it affect?

• Shipping companies owning or managing vessels over 5,000 gross tonnes calling at EEA ports.
• Vessel operators (even if not owners) responsible for the technical and operational management of affected vessels.
• Shipowners with mixed fleets operating on both European and international routes: only voyages with calls at EEA ports are subject to the monitoring obligation.
• Accredited verifiers providing services for approval of monitoring plans and validation of annual reports.
• CFOs and operations directors of shipping companies with exposure to the European market, who must budget compliance costs and manage the risk of sanctions.

Practical example

A Spanish shipping company operating three container vessels between 8,000 and 15,000 gross tonnes with regular routes between Valencia, Rotterdam, and Hamburg falls fully within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2015/757.

For each of those three vessels, the company must:

1. Have a monitoring plan approved by an accredited verifier, specific to each vessel.
2. Record fuel consumption on each voyage that includes a call at an EEA port.
3. Calculate the CO2 emissions associated with that consumption.
4. Submit a verified annual report for each vessel by the established deadline.

If one of the vessels operates for a year without an approved monitoring plan or without submitting the annual report, the shipping company is exposed to sanctions by the corresponding Member State and, in case of recurrence, to prohibition from entering European ports, which would make the commercial route unviable.

The amendment CELEX:32015R0757R(03) does not change any of these steps: it simply ensures that the regulatory reference text is free of technical or linguistic errors.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify if your vessels exceed 5,000 GT: Review the length and gross tonnage of each fleet unit to confirm whether they fall within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2015/757.
2. Check that each affected vessel has a current and approved monitoring plan by an accredited verifier. Without this document, monitoring cannot be validly initiated.
3. Review fuel consumption recording systems: Ensure that data is correctly recorded per voyage and that the monitoring method used is the one approved in the plan.
4. Plan annual verification: Contract with the accredited verifier in advance for validation of the annual report, avoiding delays that could result in non-compliance.
5. Update monitoring plans if there have been changes in the fleet (new vessels, route changes, technical modifications) to reflect the actual situation of each unit.
6. Consult the amended text of Regulation (EU) 2015/757 through reference CELEX:32015R0757R(03) to ensure you are working with the official updated version, especially if you have internal documents based on earlier versions of the text.

Official source

View complete regulation on official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=CELEX:32015R0757R(03)