FuelEU compliance race continues in maritime tech sector

US-based software-as-a-service company OrbitMI, with BV Marine & Offshore, has enhanced its Orbit vessel performance platform for FuelEU planning and monitoring to optimise operations.

From 1 January 2025, the new FuelEU regulation stipulates all vessels 5,000 gt and higher transporting passengers or cargo, irrespective of flag, calling at EU ports will have to pay a penalty fee if their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions exceed the permitted limits. New rules set an emissions intensity target of 18.232 grams of CO2e per megajoule (g/CO2e per MJ) for fuels in 2050. Intensity reduction targets will be progressively increased from 2% starting in 2025 to 80% by 2050.

OrbitMI chief executive Ali Riaz says FuelEU “represents a significant shift in maritime regulations to drive more sustainable fuel solutions, with a whole new level of complexity for shipping operations”.

Greater visibility into the itinerary, position, daily fuel consumption and weather conditions will help both vessel owner and operator avoid post-voyage surprises and minimise the regulatory penalties. 

OrbitMI said its platform allows simulations to predict the impact of bunkering decisions on carbon intensity thresholds in prefixture planning, and thereby estimate FuelEU exposure and impact by vessel, voyage or fleet. 

Mr Riaz points out that accurate tracking, reporting and verification of fuel use and emissions will become essential for compliance under FuelEU, and to share real-time voyage data among the various stakeholders to provide visibility for better decision-making.

Streamlining compliance

Operational decisions can also be monitored during voyages, with post-voyage tracking and reporting to ensure compliance, and to generate insights to inform future bunkering decisions.

The platform, with streamlined collection and transmission of compliance data and integration with existing systems such as VeriSTAR Green for efficient reporting, is set for further FuelEU upgrades to be rolled out in the near future that will include new features such as pooling management.

“Companies trading in the EU need to understand the regulation and adapt their operations to FuelEU as the clock ticks to implementation in 2025. Success in this new regulatory environment also requires enhanced co-operation between shipowners, operators and managers,” Mr Riaz said.