FuelEU, ETS, and new fuels create demand for advisory and monitoring services.
Emission data, fuel readiness, contract support, and predictive maintenance.
Operators need to know what a regulation changes in daily operations.
Describe services along the consequences of new regulation.
Every new regulatory obligation creates complexity that operators cannot – or do not wish to – manage alone. FuelEU Maritime and the EU ETS for shipping have created several service areas that did not exist before 2024 or served only a niche.
The first and largest area is emissions data management. Shipping companies must deliver annually verified emission reports to THETIS-MRV, perform well-to-wake calculations, and manage Proof of Sustainability certificates from their bunker suppliers. Many mid-sized shipping companies with 5-20 vessels have neither the software nor the personnel to map these data flows internally. This creates a market for specialised data management providers who act as an interface between the shipping company, verifier, and EU authorities.
The second area is fuel advisory. Under FuelEU, selecting the right fuel is no longer purely a price question. An adviser who knows the GHG intensity values of different fuels, has an overview of availability in various ports, and can calculate the cost impact on FuelEU compliance and ETS allowances in an integrated manner delivers measurable added value.
The third area is compliance pooling management. FuelEU permits the netting of compliance surpluses and deficits between vessels. Organising such pools – participant selection, netting logic, contract design, annual settlement – is a standalone service that combines technical, commercial, and legal know-how.
The fourth area concerns technical retrofitting. Shore power installations, flow meters for MRV-compliant monitoring, exhaust gas aftertreatment systems, and dual-fuel conversions generate demand for planning, installation, and class survey support. This market is capital-intensive but stable long-term because regulatory requirements are continuously tightened through 2050.
For existing maritime service providers – ship managers, classification societies, bunker suppliers, consultants – FuelEU means an expansion of their service portfolio. A ship manager who previously managed maintenance and crewing can now offer compliance data management as an additional service. A classification society that previously only assessed technical condition can now act as a FuelEU verifier.
For new market entrants, opportunities arise in specialised niches. Software companies offering fleet performance platforms with integrated FuelEU compliance tracking serve a market likely to grow in double digits over the coming years. Likewise consulting firms specialising in the translation of regulation into operational action – precisely the interface the industry most lacks.
For operators, the key question is: make or buy? Large shipping companies with over 50 vessels will typically build their own compliance teams. Mid-sized shipping companies with 5-20 vessels will more likely rely on external service providers. The critical point is that data sovereignty must remain with the operator – anyone who outsources their emission data to a service provider without retaining their own access creates a dangerous dependency.
Since FuelEU Maritime came into force in January 2025, service markets have developed faster than anticipated. Several classification societies have established dedicated FuelEU advisory departments. At least three start-ups offer cloud-based compliance platforms that aggregate emission data in real time and deliver compliance forecasts.
The pooling market is particularly dynamic. Initial pooling managers have established themselves, functioning similarly to ETS brokers: they broker compliance surpluses between vessels of different owners and charge a commission. This business model did not exist before FuelEU.
At the same time, quality differences are emerging. Some service providers understand the regulatory requirements but not the operational reality on board. Others know the shipboard operation but not the legal intricacies of the compliance calculation. The best providers combine both perspectives – and this is precisely where the positioning opportunity lies for technical consultancies with maritime experience.
For service providers seeking to enter the FuelEU service market, an evaluation along three criteria is recommended. First, demand urgency: which services do operators need immediately (data management, verifier preparation), and which only in the medium term (retrofit planning, pooling organisation)? Second, competitive intensity: in which fields are strong providers already active, and where are gaps? Third, own competence: which of the four service areas matches existing expertise?
For operators, the reverse applies: first analyse the internal need (which compliance tasks can we handle ourselves, which not?), then survey the market, and only then engage service providers – with clear service-level agreements governing data formats, delivery deadlines, and responsibilities.
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