Due to delays in the process of incorporating the FuelEU Maritime Regulation into the EEA Agreement, it is unlikely that Norway will implement it by 1 January 2025. This also means that the Norwegian regulation cannot be established before the end of the year.
The EEA process consists of several steps, and delays may therefore occur. Norway is working to ensure that the EEA Committee’s decision is made as quickly as possible. However, it now appears that it will not be possible to achieve this in time for it to enter into force by 1 January 2025. As assessed by the Norwegian Maritime Directorate, this delay means that Norwegian and Icelandic ports from 1 January 2025 until their incorporation into the EEA Agreement will be considered third-country ports in the FuelEU context.
This means that during this period only half of the energy used between a port of call in Norway/Iceland and a port of call in the EU will be counted in the FuelEU accounts. Furthermore, the energy used on journeys within Norway or between Norway and non-EU countries during this period will not be counted in the FuelEU accounts, says Marte Hustveit Hauge, senior advisor in the Department for Regulations and International Work.
In this regard, it is important to ensure that voyages to, from and within Norway and Iceland are treated equally by all shipping companies, verifiers and administering states. The Norwegian Maritime Authority has therefore been in contact with the European Commission, which is considering publishing information about this on its website and directly to the verifiers.
We have worked purposefully to ensure that the regulations come into force in Norway from 1 January 2025. Norwegian regulations are ready to be adopted , but can only come into force after we have received an EEA Committee decision on this.
…said Alf Tore Sørheim, Acting Director, Maritime Affairs.
Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels for maritime transport (FuelEU Maritime) was adopted by the EU on 13 September 2023. The regulation consists of a common EU framework to ensure increased use of alternative energy sources in shipping, and the main requirements enter into force in the EU from 1 January 2025.
The Norwegian Maritime Authority has previously urged all shipping companies covered by the regulations to comply with the EU deadlines for preparing a FuelEU monitoring plan. It continues to urge them to prepare such plans before the regulations are implemented in Norway.
The Norwegian Maritime Authority has worked with the aim of the regulations also coming into force in Norway from 1 January 2025, and regulatory changes were up for consultation from 23 August to 29 October 2024 .
The industry has expressed concern over the delay in the incorporation of FuelEU Maritime into the EEA Agreement. Several players have pointed out that it is important to gain clarity on how the delay will affect their operations.
We understand that it is difficult for some actors that there is now a delay, but we can assure you that we at the directorate are doing our utmost to inform those who are closer to the decision-making process that this is urgent.
…said Sørheim.
