Does my ship fall under FuelEU Maritime?
Adopted 2026-06-14 · ≈ 1 min read · 
edited by Dirk Baaijen
FuelEU Maritime (Regulation (EU) 2023/1805) has applied since 1 January 2025 to ships above 5,000 GT calling at EU ports, regardless of flag. What matters is the tonnage and the EU port call, not the ship's nationality.
Short answer: Your ship falls under FuelEU Maritime if it exceeds 5,000 GT and calls at an EU port, regardless of which flag it sails under. The regulation has applied since 1 January 2025.
Who is covered?
FuelEU Maritime is set out in Regulation (EU) 2023/1805. The regime applies to ships above 5,000 gross tonnage (GT) that call at EU ports. The ship's flag is not decisive: vessels flying a non-EU flag are equally covered once they call at an EU port. Two factors therefore determine coverage: the tonnage of the ship and the call at an EU port.
The regulation has applied since 1 January 2025. Ahead of that, the monitoring plan had to be in place from 31 August 2024.
What obligations apply?
The core of FuelEU Maritime is a declining greenhouse gas intensity of the energy used, measured across the full chain from source to wake (well-to-wake). The standard tightens in steps: a reduction of 2% in 2025, rising to 80% in 2050. In this way the regulation directly steers the fleet's fuel mix.
In addition, there is an obligation to use onshore power supply (OPS) or zero-emission technology while the ship is at berth. This curbs emissions during the port stay.
FuelEU and EU ETS: two separate tracks
FuelEU Maritime is distinct from the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for shipping. The EU ETS is being phased in over 2024–2026 and prices CO2 emissions (tank-to-wake) through emission allowances. The distinction is fundamental: FuelEU steers the fuel you use, while the EU ETS prices the actual emissions. A ship can therefore be subject to both regimes at the same time.
Read the main file: FuelEU Maritime and EU ETS for shipping. Or take the Transport & Logistics scan.
Sources
- https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1805/oj
Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 (FuelEU Maritime); applicable since 1 January 2025.
Read next
FuelEU Maritime or EU ETS for shipping: what is the difference?
FuelEU Maritime steers the fuel — a falling greenhouse gas intensity (well-to-wake) from 2% in 2025 to 80% in 2050. The EU ETS for shipping instead prices emissions (tank-to-wake CO2) via allowances. Two separate regimes that complement each other.
FuelEU Maritime & EU ETS: decarbonisation reaches shipping
Since 1 January 2025 FuelEU Maritime (Regulation (EU) 2023/1805) applies: ships above 5,000 GT calling at EU ports must cut the greenhouse-gas intensity of their energy — 2% in 2025, rising to 80% by 2050. Together with the EU ETS for shipping it puts a price on emissions.
On-shore power at berth: when and for whom mandatory?
FuelEU Maritime requires ships above 5,000 GT calling at EU ports to use on-shore power (OPS) or zero-emission technology at berth. The regulation has applied since 1 January 2025, regardless of flag.