MSC is following the deliberations around the potential expansion of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). It has delivered the following press release to provide an update on how these changes may impact the parties involved:
MSC has fully complied with all EU MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) requirements to date and will fully comply with the new requirements of the EU ETS, once the EU Council, and European Parliament and European Commission come to an agreement on its application.
There are currently at least two paths that policymakers are considering. The European Commission has proposed a phased-in approach for the shipping industry over the next four years, beginning on 1 January 2023. Meanwhile, the Parliament has recommended 100% application from the start. The final start date for coverage has yet to be determined, as the legislative process is still ongoing.
What is an ETS?
An ETS, or Emissions Trading System, typically sets a “cap” on the number of emissions that various industries may produce. This may include factories, retailers or powerplants. Aiming to incentivize decarbonization efforts, the EU ETS requires companies to obtain allowances that equal their emissions above the cap at the end of the year. The price of such allowances may fluctuate depending on supply and demand factors.
How will the EU ETS be applied to shipping?
The extension of the existing system to shipping would include all emissions from ships calling at an EU port for voyages within the EU (intra-EU) as well as 50% of the emissions from voyages starting or ending outside of the EU (extra-EU voyages), and all emissions that occur when ships are at berth in EU ports. Another pending proposal being debated in the EU institutions would extend the geographical scope of the emissions reporting area to ports within 300 nautical miles of EU waters.
As other industries do today, MSC and other ship operators would purchase and surrender ETS emission allowances, or EU Allowances (EUAs), for each ton of CO2 emissions reported under the scope of the system.
Higher costs
Should the EU fully implement its plans, we anticipate higher operating costs in order to be compliant. We therefore plan to pass on the cost of compliance, as we have done with other forms of environmental regulatory costs in the past. This will depend on the price of the EUAs and on whether the shipping industry’s involvement is phased-in over several years, or required 100% from day one.
Compliance cost examples
As an example, based on an EUA price of EUR90 per ton of CO2 applied with a 100% obligation, we would envisage adding the cost on our Far East to North Europe trade of EUR69 per TEU for dry containers and EUR208 per FEU for reefer containers. North Europe to Asia, the cost would be EUR37 per dry TEU and EUR110 per reefer FEU.
For more information: 
MSC GENEVA
Tel: +41 227038888
[email protected]