Risto-Juhani Kariranta, CEO of Ahti Climate, which manages the Ahti Pool platform, suggests that pooling will continue to be the primary method for complying with FuelEU Maritime regulations during the 2026 reporting period. However, he notes a significant change in the types of low-carbon fuels being used to generate compliance units. The Ahti Pool system allows vessels that exceed the EU's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity reduction targets by using cleaner fuels to trade their surplus compliance units. These units can then be acquired by vessels operating on conventional fuels that do not meet the regulatory requirements, thereby balancing their overall emissions intensity.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this shift in fuel demand could influence carrier strategies regarding vessel deployment and fuel choices. A decrease in bioLNG demand might signal a move towards other alternative fuels or a re-evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of various decarbonization pathways. This could potentially affect freight rates if carriers adjust their operational costs based on fuel procurement and compliance strategies. Understanding these changes is crucial for anticipating future surcharges or assessing the environmental footprint of different shipping options.
