BSM: EU ETS will have extensive impact on our and our clients’ business

Maritime services company Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) is developing an IT platform that will cover the entire compliance process with the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) set to be introduced in 2024, the company said.

The platform will focus on handling compliance, data collection and verification, emissions forecasts, registration management, as well as carbon allowance processes. BSM said that a single source dashboard will be included in the existing digital ship management system.

“BSM has been focusing on the EU Emissions Trading System for some time because it will have extensive impact on our and our clients’ business”, says Sebastian von Hardenberg, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of BSM.

“We invest in the development of specialist teams and IT tools required to ensure a smooth EU ETS process and certificate administration for owners and their charterers. As ship managers, we will offer transparent live data driven applications showing a vessel’s consumption in relation to geolocation and time as well as the resulting EU ETS exposure.”

“In the first step we have realised a voyage history view for daily and total EU relevant CO2 emissions and EU allowances required”, specifies Anil Jacob, Head of BSM’s Fleet Performance Centre.

“In a second step, we will provide forecasts for the relevant ship’s emissions to be expected in the future.”

The ship manager pointed out the importance of reliable forecasts, adding that their quality will be decisive how precise the need for necessary carbon allowances is calculated. Finally, BSM is considering tools for accounting and handling of the certificates.

An opportunity, according to von Hardenberg, lies in the trading of the EU Allowances (EUA) itself.

“The question who actually buys the certificates will, in practice, depend on the commercial agreements between the charterer, owner and ship manager involved. Some shipowners and charterers may, for whatever reason, be unwilling to set up trading or EU ETS teams. For those we as BSM will be prepared to take this responsibility over as part of the commercial management task basket we offer,” von Hardenberg said. 

As per the polluter pay principle the responsibility to pay for EUA certificates first lies with the charterer and then the shipowner. However, in the eyes of the EU regulator, the statutory responsibility for non-compliance lies with the DOC (Document of Compliance) holder.

“As a DOC holder, this will expand the exposure and tasks of a ship manager. At the same time, it will strengthen our role as part of the maritime industry – if we are able to offer strong solutions to master these complex requirements. We are working on this with vigour and consistency.”

Per EU ETS regulations, shipowners and operators will need to acquire emission permits for 40% of their applicable emissions in 2024, increasing to 70% in 2025, and 100% in 2026 and every year thereafter.

This is applicable to intra-EU voyages and voyages between EU ports and non-EU ports.