European Shipowners call for tripling of EU ETS funds earmarked for maritime transition

European Shipowners (ECSA) has called on the European Parliament and the Council to at least triple the volume of EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) revenues set aside for shipping’s energy transition, after an in-house study concluded that the sector is paying roughly twice its share into the scheme.

According to the study, published on 15 October, shipping accounts for around 10% of the emissions covered by the EU ETS but contributes almost 20% of the system’s revenues. ECSA also points out that, unlike other sectors, shipping has never been granted free allowances.

The association sees the new Sustainable Maritime Alternative Propulsion (SMAP) mechanism as an opportunity to channel part of this contribution back into the industry’s decarbonisation. However, it argues that the European Commission’s proposal of 110 million allowances covers only a third of what is required. The study estimates that SMAP needs at least 330 million allowances, equivalent to some EUR 30 billion, to help establish a viable market for sustainable maritime fuels and technologies.

ECSA further stresses that the support should not be limited to fuels alone, but should cover all technologies that deliver carbon savings, including energy efficiency projects. According to the association, a properly sized SMAP would be crucial in helping shipping meet the 2040 target under FuelEU Maritime.

“The Commission proposal covers only a third of what is needed to help create a market for clean fuels and tech,” said Sotiris Raptis, Secretary General of ECSA. He added that SMAP can contribute to the sector’s energy transition, but only if it matches the scale of the challenge and is open to every technology that reduces emissions.

The full study is available on the ECSA website

https://ecsa.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ES-ECSA-In-house-Study-330-million-SMAP-allowances-for-release.pdf

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