FuelEU Maritime Penalty Calculator
FuelEU Maritime (Regulation 2023/1805) limits the greenhouse gas intensity of energy used on board ships calling at EU/EEA ports. Ships exceeding the annual GHG intensity target face a penalty calculated under Article 23. Enter your vessel's fuel consumption below to estimate the compliance status and penalty cost — or enter an IMO number to auto-fill from EU MRV data.
100% intra-EU + 50% EU-to-third-country voyages
FuelEU Maritime vs EU ETS
| FuelEU Maritime | EU ETS | |
|---|---|---|
| What it regulates | GHG intensity of fuel (gCO2e/MJ) | Total CO2 emissions (tonnes) |
| Mechanism | Fuel standard with fixed penalty | Cap-and-trade with market-priced allowances |
| Applies from | 2025 | 2024 (40% phase-in) |
| Scope | Well-to-wake lifecycle emissions | Tank-to-wake (direct) emissions |
| Penalty driver | Fuel type (GHG intensity per MJ) | Fuel quantity (total CO2 emitted) |
| Pooling | Allowed (fleet-level compliance) | Not applicable (per-company) |
| Reduction target | 2% (2025) to 80% (2050) | 100% phase-in by 2026 |
Both regulations apply to ships of 5,000 GT and above calling at EU/EEA ports. A vessel may be compliant with one and not the other. Calculate your EU ETS cost →
How the calculation works
The calculator estimates the well-to-wake GHG intensity of the vessel's energy use based on fuel type and compares it against the annual FuelEU target. Default GHG intensity values are from Annex II of the regulation (e.g. HFO: 91.16 gCO2e/MJ, LNG: 67.85 gCO2e/MJ).
EU-scoped energy is calculated as: annual fuel consumption (tonnes) x lower calorific value (MJ/t) x EU scope percentage. The EU scope follows the same split as EU ETS: 100% of intra-EU voyages and at-berth energy, 50% of EU-to-third-country voyages.
If GHG intensity exceeds the target, the penalty follows Article 23: the compliance deficit (gCO2e/MJ above target) is multiplied by EU-scoped energy (MJ) and a conversion factor (€2,400 per tonne of VLSFO equivalent). Consecutive years of non-compliance add a 10% escalation per year.
The multi-year projection shows compliance status and estimated penalty at each FuelEU milestone year, assuming the same fuel type and consumption.
See the full methodology for details on data sources and emission factors.
FuelEU reduction targets
| Year | Reduction vs 2020 | Max GHG intensity |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2% | 89.34 gCO2e/MJ |
| 2030 | 6% | 85.69 gCO2e/MJ |
| 2035 | 14.5% | 77.96 gCO2e/MJ |
| 2040 | 31% | 62.91 gCO2e/MJ |
| 2045 | 62% | 34.64 gCO2e/MJ |
| 2050 | 80% | 18.23 gCO2e/MJ |
2020 baseline: 91.16 gCO2e/MJ. Intermediate years interpolate between milestones.
Key facts
- FuelEU Maritime applies from 1 January 2025 to ships of 5,000 GT and above calling at EU/EEA ports.
- The regulation targets fuel GHG intensity (gCO2e/MJ), not total emissions. Switching to lower-carbon fuels is the primary compliance pathway.
- Penalties are calculated per ship per year. Consecutive non-compliance escalates the penalty by 10% per year.
- Ships can pool compliance — surplus from one vessel offsets the deficit of another within the same pool.
- Banking and borrowing: a compliance surplus of up to 10% can be banked to the next period; a deficit of up to 2% can be borrowed from the following period.
- From 2030, ships at berth in major EU ports must connect to onshore power supply (OPS) or use equivalent zero-emission technology.
- The ISM company is responsible for compliance. Charter party clauses determine commercial allocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FuelEU Maritime regulation?
FuelEU Maritime (Regulation 2023/1805) requires ships calling at EU/EEA ports to progressively reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of the energy they use on board. It sets a maximum GHG intensity (in gCO2e per MJ) that tightens in steps from 2025 to 2050, starting at a 2% reduction versus the 2020 baseline and reaching 80% by 2050. It is separate from the EU ETS — ETS prices carbon emissions, while FuelEU targets fuel GHG intensity.
How is the FuelEU penalty calculated?
If a ship's well-to-wake GHG intensity exceeds the annual target, the penalty is calculated under Article 23 of the regulation. The formula is: penalty = (compliance deficit in gCO2e/MJ) x (EU-scoped energy in MJ) x (€2,400 / (41,000 MJ/t x 3.206 gCO2e/MJ)). This effectively converts the deficit into a VLSFO-equivalent cost at €2,400 per tonne. If the ship has been non-compliant in consecutive prior years, the penalty escalates by 10% per year.
What is the difference between FuelEU Maritime and EU ETS?
EU ETS is a carbon pricing mechanism — ships buy emission allowances for CO2 (and from 2026, CH4 and N2O) emitted on EU voyages. FuelEU Maritime is a fuel standard — it limits the well-to-wake GHG intensity of the energy used on board, regardless of how much fuel is consumed. A ship burning large quantities of LNG might face a large ETS bill (high total emissions) but pass FuelEU (low GHG intensity per MJ). Conversely, a small ship burning HFO might have a modest ETS cost but fail FuelEU. Both apply from 2025 to ships of 5,000 GT and above calling at EU/EEA ports.
Can ships pool compliance under FuelEU?
Yes. FuelEU allows voluntary pooling: ships can form a pool where surplus compliance from one vessel offsets the deficit of another. The pool's aggregate compliance balance determines whether a penalty applies. This incentivises fleet-wide optimisation — an owner with one LNG vessel and several HFO vessels could pool them to avoid penalties on the HFO ships. Pooling arrangements must be notified to the administering authority.
What fuels reduce FuelEU GHG intensity?
The regulation measures well-to-wake intensity, so fuels with lower lifecycle emissions improve compliance. LNG reduces intensity modestly versus HFO. Bio-LNG, e-methanol, green hydrogen, and green ammonia offer larger reductions. Shore power at berth counts as zero-emission energy for the in-port portion. The exact GHG intensity of each fuel depends on its production pathway — the regulation uses default values from a delegated act unless the operator provides certified actual values.
Does FuelEU Maritime apply to all ships?
FuelEU applies to commercial ships of 5,000 GT and above that call at EU/EEA ports, regardless of flag. It covers 100% of energy used on intra-EU voyages and at berth in EU ports, and 50% of energy used on voyages between EU and third-country ports. Military vessels, fishing vessels, and ships below 5,000 GT are excluded.
Full emissions compliance report for any vessel
VesselScore reports include FuelEU compliance status, EU ETS cost estimates, CII ratings, full MRV emissions data, plus PSC history, sanctions screening, and ownership chain.
Request accessGHG intensity default values from FuelEU Maritime Regulation 2023/1805 Annex II and delegated acts. EU MRV data (THETIS-MRV) used for auto-filling by IMO. Penalty formula per Article 23. Reduction targets from Article 4(2). This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes and does not constitute compliance advice.