Skip to main content

Quality-assured

Every scheme status, threshold and key date is expert-reviewed and backed by source links you can check.

Visual overview

See which regions each regulation touches, filter by status or type, and scrub the year to watch the landscape change.

Cost examples

Pick an example route to get an indicative per-scheme cost breakdown — a feel for exposure, never an invoice.

Explore the schemes

The maritime emissions landscape spans global IMO measures, EU and UK carbon markets, a US technology standard, and sovereign African levies. Here is each scheme at a glance.

IMO Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII)

Active

Operational carbon-intensity A–E rating for ships ≥5,000 GT on international voyages.

In force since 2023; reduction factors tighten annually toward 2030.

IMO Net-Zero Framework (NZF)

Under discussion

Proposed global fuel-intensity standard (GFI) plus GHG pricing for ships ≥5,000 GT.

Approved in principle Apr 2025; adoption adjourned Oct 2025; re-vote expected ~Oct 2026; if adopted, first reporting 1 Jan 2028.

EU Emissions Trading System (Maritime)

Active

100% intra-EEA & at-berth emissions, 50% on voyages into/out of the EEA. ≥5,000 GT.

Live since Jan 2024; 100% surrender and CH₄/N₂O from 1 Jan 2026.

FuelEU Maritime

Active

Well-to-wake GHG-intensity limit on energy used, tightening over time. ≥5,000 GT.

Live since 1 Jan 2025; intensity limit tightens in steps to 2050.

UK Emissions Trading Scheme (Maritime)

Upcoming

Domestic UK↔UK voyages and in-port emissions at 100%. ≥5,000 GT. From 1 Jul 2026.

In force from 1 Jul 2026; first compliance period 1 Jul–31 Dec 2026; offshore from 2027; international proposed 2028.

CARB Ocean-Going Vessels At-Berth Regulation

Active

Shore power or approved emission control at California terminals — technology standard, not $/tonne.

Container/reefer/cruise since 2023; auto-carriers & tankers phasing 2025–2027.

Djibouti Carbon Levy

Active

USD 17/tCO₂e on 50% of the voyage footprint to/from Djibouti, with a per-voyage cap.

Reporting since 2023.

Gabon Carbon Levy

Active

USD 17/tCO₂e on 50% of emissions to/from Gabon; up to 30% offset from 2026.

Effective 1 Apr 2025; up to 30% offset from 2026.

Turkey Shipping GHG Emissions Fee

Upcoming

Planned fee on verified GHG emissions of ships at Turkish ports, tied to the EU ETS price.

Ports Law amendment Jul 2024; implementing regulation pending.

Latest regulatory updates

Last reviewed 2026-06-24
2026-06-01

UK ETS maritime starts 1 July 2026

Domestic UK↔UK voyages and in-port activities come under the UK ETS at 100% with no phase-in. The first compliance period runs to 31 December 2026.

gov.uk
2026-01-01

EU ETS reaches 100% surrender; CH₄ and N₂O added

Maritime EU ETS moves to full 100% surrender of allowances and extends coverage to methane and nitrous oxide, raising compliance cost materially versus 2025.

2025-10-17

IMO Net-Zero Framework adoption adjourned

Formal adoption of the IMO NZF was adjourned at MEPC; a re-vote is expected around October 2026. It remains under discussion with no charge until adopted.

2025-04-01

Gabon carbon levy takes effect

Gabon began applying USD 17/tCO₂e on 50% of the emissions of voyages to and from its ports, with up to 30% offsets available from 2026.

Who uses it

Charterers

Which schemes hit my route, and roughly what do they cost?

Owners & operators

What's active now versus coming, and exactly when?

Brokers

A quick, credible scan of the regulatory landscape for a fixture.

Traders

See where carbon pricing bites across jurisdictions and years.

Finance

Frame exposure and the direction of compliance cost over time.

Technical managers

Track thresholds, key dates and corrective-action triggers.

Methodology & basis

Cost figures are indicative only and are never an invoice. They are derived from representative annual route emissions on an HFO basis and year-indexed reference prices, with each carbon-pricing scheme applying its statutory coverage and phase-in.

EU ETS uses the EEX EUA reference price and the 40% / 70% / 100% surrender phase-in; the Djibouti and Gabon levies apply USD 17/tCO₂e to 50% of the relevant voyage footprint; the UK ETS applies only to UK domestic and in-port legs; CARB At-Berth is a technology standard shown as an indicative compliance cost rather than a per-tonne charge; and the Turkey fee and IMO Net-Zero Framework are shown as $0 until they are operational or adopted.

Scheme statuses, thresholds and key dates were expert-reviewed and last reviewed on 2026-06-24. Confirm actual liabilities for a specific vessel and voyage with the Varuna estimator.

Go further

Get an exact figure for any vessel and route, or talk to our regulatory team about your fleet's exposure across these schemes.