The international ferry operators’ organization, Interferry, has called on the EU Commission to align its shipping climate targets for shipping with the global net-zero framework adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in April 2025.
According to Interferry, the current legal framework results in an “unacceptable double payment” for the same emissions, threatening the economic viability of European ferry connections.
The EU is currently pursuing its own course for regulating greenhouse gas emissions in maritime transport with the Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and FuelEU Maritime.
Meanwhile, the IMO has introduced a global system which, among other things, provides for a gradual reduction in the greenhouse gas intensity of fuels (GFI) and compensation through so-called “remedial units”. In Interferry’s view, these instruments overlap in a way that leads to double costs for operators.
“We cannot allow shipping companies to be asked to pay twice for one and the same emission,” explained Johan Roos, Director of Regulatory Affairs at Interferry. The EU had promised to adapt its rules as soon as a global framework had been created – “this is now in place”, Roos continued. The EU Commission must now keep its word and harmonize the regulations.
According to Interferry, Europe’s ferry industry is of strategic importance: more than half of the world’s RoRo passenger tonnage is operated in European waters. Around 800 million passengers and 200 million vehicles and freight units are transported each year. These services massively relieve the already overloaded road network. However, double climate costs create a considerable competitive disadvantage compared to road transport, which has so far been spared comparable surcharges.
Interferry points out that passengers and freight forwarders are particularly price-sensitive: “Every extra euro in ticket costs has a direct impact on capacity utilization,” the press release states. The organization is therefore calling for an immediate review of the EU regulations with the aim of aligning them with the IMO regulations and thus ensuring the competitiveness of the industry.
About Interferry
Interferry, based in Vancouver, represents around 2,200 industry players with over 280 member companies from more than 40 countries. The organization has consultative status with the IMO and influences European regulatory processes. The ferry industry transports more than four billion passengers and 370 million vehicles worldwide every year.
