Ferry Operators Cry Foul Over EU ETS Delays Favoring Road Transport

Interferry, representing global ferry operators, is escalating concerns over the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) framework, which has placed disproportionate compliance costs on maritime shipping while road freight continues to benefit from repeated regulatory delays. Ferry operators are already absorbing approximately EUR 1 billion in annual compliance costs under the existing EU ETS for ships 5,000 GT and above, translating to EUR 250 per tonne of diesel fuel, while the delayed ETS2 for road transport allows higher-emitting trucking to maintain a cost advantage.

The core issue centers on regulatory imbalance: road transport has been grouped with the building sector in ETS2 discussions, allowing political concerns about household heating costs to shield freight trucking from meaningful carbon pricing mechanisms. This postponement, already delayed from 2027 to 2028, faces additional pressure for further extension from Eastern and Southern European member states, creating an unlevel playing field on competitive ferry routes that directly compete with road alternatives.

For supply chain professionals, this development signals structural headwinds for maritime transport economics in Europe and underscores the strategic risk of uneven regulatory frameworks across competing modes. Ferry operators face margin compression, reduced investment capacity for decarbonization technologies, and potential customer shifts to higher-emission road transport, ultimately undermining climate objectives while distorting modal economics.