Emission of ships

Registration of seagoing vessels >5000 GT with the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) applicable from the 01.01.2024

All shipowners operating ships of 5000 GT and more have to start with the following registration work applicable from the 01.01.2024 as follows:

  1. All stakeholder under the EU ETS shall open an account that has been allocated by the EU Commission. The competent Administration of the registration scheme in Germany is operated by the German Authority for Emission Trading (DEHSt). In this registration, every shipowner under the application of the EU ETS shall apply for his maritime operator holding account. All future ETS transactions for emission allowances can only be carried out under this account. It is also possible to pool several ships under one account.
  2. According to the actual status the operational start of the maritime operator holding account will be in April 2024. When the revised EU registry directive has been adopted, which then also incorporates the shipping sector, further information will be provided for the implementation and use of the ETS account.

The emission trading system is applied in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2023/957 and Implementing Regulation 2023/2599.

For further information shipowners can contact the customer service of the DEHSt under emissionshandel@dehst.de or find information on existing questions in the FAQs.

In case of further questions you may also contact the Ship Safety Division in Hamburg, by phone:  +49 40 36 137 217 or by mail: maschine@bg-verkehr.de.