CLdN To Offer Pooling Services To Support FuelEU Maritime Compliance

CLdN, the leading provider of short sea freight shipping in northwest Europe, is offering a new service to enable potential partners to meet more stringent EU environmental norms. The FuelEU Maritime directive (FEUM) aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime sector by promoting the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels. However, this approach entails higher fuel costs given that biofuels - which can deliver significant reductions in well-to-wake and tank-to-wake emissions - cost between 50-150% more than conventional fossil fuels.  

Jasper Meireman, Head of Shipping Operations at CLdN explains: “Biofuels are significantly more expensive and present procurement challenges for companies that do not have the ability to bunker biofuels or are irregularly sailing in EU waters. The financial penalties for not meeting the requirements of FEUM are significant.. For example, a capesize vessel sailing from South America to Rotterdam, would incur penalties of some $50,000 should the vessel not be fuelled with the required tonnage of biofuel to meet the regulatory requirements.”  

Pooling – compliance through partnership

Pooling is a mechanism that provides flexibility for ship owners and operators in achieving regulatory compliance and enables them to avoid these penalties. Companies are allowed to pool the performances of different ships, using the over-performance of one ship to compensate the under-performance of other ships, provided that the total pooled compliance is positive. This creates a possibility to reward over-compliance and provides incentives for investment in more advanced technologies.  

“CLdN is one of the largest short sea shipping operators in the EU.” says Jasper. “We own more than 30 vessels that sail up to 2.5 million nautical miles per year, mainly in EU waters. We operate reliable and fixed routes delivering cargo for our customers. All our ships are capable of using either biodiesel or bio-LNG and by adapting our fuel mix to use higher proportions of sustainable biofuels we can help other ship owners and operators comply with the regulations and reduce costs”.  

A high-performance fleet

CLdN’s fleet of more than 30 vessels is already best-in-class when it comes to CO2 emission efficiency. In 2023, CLdN’s weighted average fleet emissions were 39g CO2/tonne-km. This was 19% better than CLdN’s next-best performing short sea competitor. To reduce fuel consumption and emissions, CLdN has been investing in new, larger, more fuel-efficient ships and in eco-upgrades of its existing vessels.  

*assuming fuel consumption of 1,600 metric tonnes on a round-trip voyage of 10.000 nautical miles from Tubarao to Rotterdam and a port stay of 8 days and FuelEU Maritime penalties applying on 50% of the round-trip voyage.  

For more information download our pooling services brochure or contact:

CLdN Carbon Services Team: carbon.services@cldn.com  

Tim Weekes (media) : tim.weekes@cldn.com