The UK Chamber of Shipping has published a new policy paper, Designing a Workable UK Maritime Fuel Standard: Lessons from the implementation of FuelEU Maritime, setting out key lessons from the implementation of FuelEU Maritime.
Drawing on industry experience since FuelEU Maritime came into force in January 2025, the paper offers practical recommendations to inform the Department for Transport’s development of a domestic maritime fuel standard, as proposed in the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy.
The UK Chamber supports the objective of accelerating maritime decarbonisation but warns that successful regulation depends not only on ambition, but on practical implementation. The paper follows the Chamber’s earlier work on alternative marine fuels.
What a UK Fuel Standard Should Include
The report recommends that any future domestic UK Fuel Standard should:
- be underpinned by a robust ship-level monitoring, reporting and verification framework;
- align with emerging IMO fuel certification and lifecycle assessment frameworks;
- avoid duplication with existing international and regional reporting requirements;
- set evidence-based targets informed by the availability, infrastructure readiness and technical feasibility;
- remain fuel agnostic, and flexible enough to support a range of operational and technological pathways;
- include flexible compliance mechanisms that reflect the commercial realities of shipping; and
- commit to regular review to maintain alignment with IMO developments.
Together, these principles would support a credible and deliverable regime that gives operators the flexibility to reduce emissions while remaining aligned with international progress.
The UK has an opportunity to learn from the implementation of FuelEU Maritime and design a regime that supports emissions reductions while avoiding unnecessary administrative burdens, duplicated reporting or competitive distortions.
Peter Aylott, Director of Policy at the UK Chamber of Shipping, said:
“Industry supports the objective of maritime decarbonisation, but regulation will only succeed if it is practical, proportionate and internationally aligned.
“The UK has the opportunity to get this right from the outset. That means learning from FuelEU’s implementation and building a system that cuts emissions without creating unnecessary complexity or putting UK shipping at a competitive disadvantage.”
Anna Ziou, Chair of the UK Chamber’s Carbon Working Group and Director, Maritime & Regulatory Affairs, Carnival Corporation, said:
“FuelEU Maritime has shown that fuel standards are far more complex than setting a target. They require mature data systems, clear certification rules, tested digital infrastructure and enough time for industry, verifiers and regulators to prepare.
“Industry stands ready to work with the Government and wider stakeholders to help shape a future regime that is credible, deliverable and aligned with global progress through the IMO.”
A Strong Evidence Base
The report also stresses that the credibility of any future UK regime will depend on the strength of the evidence base underpinning it. This includes realistic assumptions on future fuel availability, infrastructure deployment, vessel technology uptake and operational behaviour, as well as sufficient flexibility for industry to adjust as markets, supply chains and technologies develop, a theme also explored in the building blocks of greener shipping.
The UK Chamber is calling for early and continued engagement between Government, industry, verifiers and fuel suppliers to ensure that any UK approach supports investment, avoids unnecessary divergence and gives shipping operators the confidence needed to plan for the transition.
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