The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will cover cargo and passenger vessels over 5,000 gross tonnage on domestic UK voyages starting July 1, 2026. Emissions from international port calls are also included. Ship operators must submit an emissions monitoring plan to the regulator through the digital METS platform and UK ETS registry. Annual emissions reports must be verified by an accredited body like DNV. The scheme covers CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide on a tank-to-wake basis, with the first allowance surrender deadline set for April 30, 2028. This expansion aligns the UK ETS with the EU ETS for maritime, but cross-border projects between the EU and UK remain stalled due to lack of legal recognition for transport and storage of captured carbon dioxide, according to the Carbon Capture and Storage Association. The move signals growing regulatory pressure on the shipping sector to decarbonize, with compliance costs now directly tied to emissions.
