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Maritime transport is particularly relevant because of its impact on climate change and air quality as a source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and other air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), methane (CH4), particles and carbon black. Consequently, it set up a monitoring, reporting and verification system (MRV system) of CO2 emissions at European level, based on the fuel consumption of ships as the first step towards the reduction of greenhouse gases undertaken at European level.

The introduction of an MRV system could contribute to eliminating the lack of information on vessel efficiency, by providing comparable and reliable information on fuel consumption and energy efficiency. Such a system also provides reliable data for setting precise emission reduction targets and assessing how maritime transport contributes to the realization of a low carbon economy.

The vessels with a gross tonnage of more than 5000 GT, representing about 55% of ships calling at European Union ports and about 90% of associated emissions, carrying cargoes and/or persons at those ports, shall, as from 1 January 2018, monitor and report on CO2 emissions and other relevant information in accordance with their monitoring plan.

The monitoring, reporting and verification of the information shall be carried out in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/757 on the monitoring, reporting and verification of carbon dioxide emissions from shipping (as amended by EU Delegated Regulation 2016/2071 as regards the monitoring methods for carbon dioxide emissions and the rules for monitoring other relevant information) and the following Regulations: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1927 on models for monitoring plans, emission reports and compliance documents, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/2072 on the verification and accreditation of verifiers and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1928 on the determination of the cargo carried by categories of ships other than  passenger ships, ro-ro ships and container ships.

The main obligations are summarized as follows:

  • Until 30 August 2017 – The deadline for MRV companies to submit to the accredited MRV verifier its vessel monitoring plan using the model in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1927. Electronic forms are being developed within THETIS MRV, an information system in progress by the European Maritime Safety Agency;
  • As from 1 January 2018 - on this date, the companies responsible for the MRV system should monitor the CO2 emissions of each of its ships, as well as fuel consumption and other parameters such as sailing distance, duration and cargo transported per trip, in order to gather information in an annual emissions report to be submitted to an accredited MRV verifier;
  • As from 2019 – on 30 April of each year, the companies responsible for the MRV system shall submit to the European Commission, through THETIS MRV, an emission report of each of the ships that realized maritime transport within the European Economic Area (EEA) in the previous reporting period (calendar year);
  • As from 2019 – on 30 June of each year, the companies responsible for the MRV system shall ensure that all its ships, which have carried out activities during the previous reporting period and have called at ports within the EEA, have on board a document of compliance issued by the THETIS MRV.

This obligation may be subject to inspection by the authorities of the Member States.

A set of FAQs is available to assist stakeholders in this process, such as companies responsible for the MRV system, verifiers and other stakeholders in the implementation of European maritime legislation related to the MRV system, as well as other guidance and best practice documents prepared by experts in this area.

To assist stakeholders in this process, such as MRV companies, verifiers and other stakeholders in the implementation of European maritime legislation related to MRV, EMSA has a set of FAQs available here, as well as other guide documents that can be consulted on here.

Any questions related to the MRV Regulation and its implementation can be submitted to the following e-mail: CL!MA-MRV-SHIPPING-HELPDESK@ec.europa.eu.