The maritime transport is entering the European Emission Trading System (EU ETS).

As of January 1, 2024, maritime transport has joined the Emission Trading System (ETS), the European system of emission allowances trading aimed at regulating and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The European Commission establishes an overall emissions cap for the maritime transport sector. This cap is then allocated as emission quotas among shipping companies based on each vessel’s fuel consumption and technical characteristics.

Each quota represents the right to emit a certain quantity of greenhouse gases. The implementation of the ETS will be gradual: 40% of CO2 emissions must be converted into quotas in 2024, then 70% in 2025, and finally 100% of emissions in 2026.

This new regulation has an impact on the price of maritime transport. The additional costs associated with purchasing these quotas and investments made to reduce emissions will result in the application of an EU ETS contribution to all containers loaded on Marfret services affected by this new regulation.

Marfret intends to continue its efforts to accelerate reductions of CO2 emissions while maintaining the quality of its services. We have established a collaboration with the company Syroco to implement a dynamic routing system that, based on various parameters, determines the optimal route of the vessel in terms of emissions. The use of the EfficientShip software platform, already tested on our Marfret Niolon, has led to a substantial reduction in emissions on the MPV line. Other techniques are underway, such as optimizing design and using specific hull coatings.

These are just some of the innovations being introduced before the change to a new type of fuel to be implemented from 2030, further to the FuelEU maritime initiative, part of the FitFor55 directive. By that date, only renewable fuels will be allowed.

New service between Rouen, Longueil-Sainte-Marie and Gennevilliers

The opening of a new service on the Oise serving Longueil-Sainte-Marie marks a major boost for river transport on the Seine. Since January 2024, Fluviofeeder Armement, a Marfret subsidiary, has been operating three rotations every fortnight between Rouen, Longueil-Sainte-Marie and Gennevilliers using the self-propelled barge Kraken. With a length of 110m and a capacity of 117 TEU, the Kraken uses GTL fuel, with significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to fuel oil.

“We are deploying additional resources to serve manufacturers based to the north of the Paris region, with supermarkets, manufacturers and construction and public works companies all using the waterway. We also transported a 345-TEU batch of containers between Longueil-Sainte-Marie and Gennevilliers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” explains Antoine Chaventré, head of multimodal activities at Marfret. Thanks to the multimodal hub in Rouen, and Somap’s integrated handling activities, the service to Longueil-Sainte-Marie takes 24 hours, with the option of a link with Le Havre via the Lydia river-sea shuttle.

Marfret to exhibit at Breakbulk Europe

Marfret will be exhibiting in Rotterdam at the Breakbulk Europe trade fair from 6 to 8 June. Housed in the Haropa pavilion, stand 2D31, our teams will be meeting with industrialists and freight forwarders to promote the advantages of our maritime transport offer, particularly in conventional transport. “This is an important trade fair that allows us to be as close as possible to our customers and port players in the Northern range where General cargo and Roll on-Roll off activities are very present”, underlines Martial Bienvenu, head of the Marfret agency in Le Havre, enthusiastic about the idea of creating new opportunities.

Marfret’s MPV line will be particularly highlighted: this service, operated by the Marfret Niolon with a capacity of 1,212 linear metres, carries non-containerisable freight (rolling, conventional), as well as sensitive freight requiring a detailed knowledge of customs procedures, between Dégrad-des-Cannes, Pointe-à-Pitre, Antwerp and Le Havre. This service can also reach other ports on inducement, according to the specific requests of our customers.

9,600 visitors are expected at the Ahoy Convention Centre with the 2023 edition focusing on nuclear and wind energy and the future of logistics.