The maritime industry is facing unprecedented regulatory changes. Failure to comply will result in fines. In this article, we'll discuss how new environmental regulations are disrupting outdated reporting systems and how custom software development can help.
What will change in 2026
Implementation of the EU Emissions Trading System
On January 1, 2026, the EU Emissions Trading System entered its most stringent phase. Shipping companies must now submit quotas for 100% of verified CO₂ emissions for voyages connected to EU and EEA ports. This concludes a three-year phased implementation, which began with 40% coverage in 2024 and 70% in 2025.
- 100% of emissions for voyages between two EU ports
- 50% of emissions for voyages originating or terminating outside the EU
- 100% of berth emissions at EU ports
Inclusion of methane and nitrous oxide in the emissions accounting system
This extension fundamentally changes the compliance equation. Methane leakage could negate most of the climate benefits of LNG and significantly increase compliance costs.
UK Emissions Trading System
From July 2026, the UK Emissions Trading System will be extended to maritime activities. The UK government announced the repeal of the existing MRV rules, as, according to a post-implementation review in June 2025, they "have not met their objective."
Compliance Timing and Costs
Amounts must be surrendered by 30 September each year, based on emissions from the previous year. The financial risks are enormous:
Why Old Systems Fail
The EU Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) Regulation requires ships to collect and report emissions data for vessels over 5,000 gross tons. In 2022 alone, 83.4 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent were recorded from maritime transport. By 2026, including methane and N₂O, the volume of data requiring collection, verification, and reporting has increased exponentially.
Traditional reporting systems were designed to simply account for CO₂. The 2026 regulations introduce multiple layers of complexity.
- Several greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O), each with different emission factors
- Different methodologies for different regulatory frameworks (EU ETS vs. FuelEU Maritime)
- Operators must simultaneously comply with the EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime, CII, and soon the UK ETS
According to industry surveys, 58% of port and terminal operators still rely on manual data processing. Without automated systems, the error rate in emissions reporting can exceed 15%.
An analysis conducted by Transport & Environment magazine in 2024 found that some carriers may be making excess profits from fees under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Maersk is estimated to earn €60,000 per voyage through additional fees.
The compliance cost more than doubles from 2024 to 2026, while the complexity multiplies with the inclusion of methane and nitrous oxide.
LNG vessels face a disproportionate cost increase due to methane slip, making accurate measurement and verification critical.
How new software solutions address this issue
1) Carbon Emissions Management Platforms
AKDev can create unique software for you that can allocate specific volumes of fuel for compliance or voluntary use.
We can develop real-time vessel compliance status monitoring features for our clients. ZERO44 and 123Carbon have already implemented a similar solution. Their software allows ship owners and operators to predict future emissions and risks.
Emissions Tracking
OceanOpt has created the VECTOR solution. It facilitates seamless integration via APIs that connect to ship logbooks and verifiers (DNV, ABS, LR, NK, BV, Verifavia). It also includes biofuel modeling functionality for strategic bunkering decisions.
We also have a similar solution. We created a system for tracking fuel tank fill levels for our Fuel Management case study.
GLEC-Accredited Emissions Calculators
Platforms such as Fluent Cargo now offer emissions calculators accredited by the Global Logistics Emissions Council. These tools provide emissions modeling for specific vessels and aircraft and instant calculations for route comparisons.
Gaps in Emissions Management Technology Adoption in the Maritime Industry
While most operators have terminal operational systems, most still rely on manual data collection methods for emissions reporting, creating a significant risk of non-compliance.
The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) imposes severe penalties for non-compliance. Companies that fail to submit sufficient allowances face risk being accused of "greenwashing."
The Need for Software
The 2026 regulatory changes represent a major shift in environmental compliance in the maritime industry. Legacy systems are unable to help companies meet the requirements.
As Frederika Hesse, Managing Director of ZERO44, noted:
"The partnership between ZERO44 and 123Carbon delivers exactly what the industry needs today." For the first time, voluntary carbon trading opportunities are seamlessly integrated with regulatory obligations under FuelEU, the EU ETS, and the CII on a single platform."
If you would like to learn more about the system we can develop for you that meets environmental standards, please use the contact form on our website and we will provide you with detailed information.
