Interferry is urging an immediate freeze on the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) for the ferry sector, advocating to maintain the current 70% emissions surrender obligation until 2025 and halt the planned increase to 100% in 2026. This call follows the EU’s decision to exempt road transport from a similar ETS mechanism and the absence of clear regulations on fund allocation. Mike Corrigan, CEO of Interferry, emphasizes that the ETS should not financially burden the maritime sector until road transport is included and funds are specifically allocated for maritime decarbonization.
Ferry services play a vital role in Europe, with over half of the world’s RoRo and passenger ship tonnage operating in its waters, transporting 400 million passengers and 200 million vehicles annually. Any increase in ferry freight rates could push more freight back onto congested roads, undermining the EU’s goal of shifting transport from road to sea. Johan Roos, Interferry’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, warns that the current ETS creates a competitive disadvantage for ferries and contradicts EU policy.
Additionally, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has delayed a global greenhouse gas pricing mechanism, leaving EU ferry operators taxed on CO₂ emissions without clarity on reinvestment or a timeline for global regulations. Roos highlights that the ETS could cost the ferry sector around one billion euros annually, diverting funds that could support e-fuel production and electrification of ports, ultimately hindering investment in cleaner technologies.
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