Scope of the new rules
The latest advisory from Mediterranean Shipping Company confirms that the revised European Union Emissions Trading System will require carriers to account for every tonne of carbon emitted on voyages connected to EU and EEA ports from 2026. Coverage rises from seventy percent in 2025 to full responsibility the following year, meaning that shipping lines must purchase additional allowances and report emissions for both inbound and outbound legs as well as port calls.
How the surcharge will work
To offset these higher compliance expenses MSC will introduce an EU ETS surcharge. The fee will follow the same calculation logic used for the existing Bunker Recovery Charge. In practice the company will multiply the prevailing carbon allowance price by verified voyage emissions and distribute the result across container slots. This formula gives customers a direct view of how carbon cost trends influence freight rates from quarter to quarter.
Hidden opportunity for shippers
A non obvious advantage emerges for planners who ship under long term contracts. Because the surcharge is fluid the differential between low and high efficiency vessels becomes transparent in freight invoices. Shippers that actively select services operated by newer fuel efficient ships could see a natural discount relative to trade lanes served by older tonnage. In effect the policy rewards informed routing choices without any extra negotiation.
Preparing for change
Shippers can prepare by taking three simple steps:
- Gather historical voyage data to model future surcharge exposure across lanes.
- Discuss with supply chain partners the possibility of slow steaming schedules that lower emissions.
- Include a carbon cost clause in budget reviews to avoid unforeseen variance.
Conclusion
The expansion of EU ETS marks another milestone in the maritime transition toward cleaner transport. MSC has translated regulatory language into a familiar surcharge framework, giving customers clarity and time to adapt. Early data driven decisions will translate directly into competitive advantage.