Maritime

Germany Amends BImSchG To Designate Umweltbundesamt As FuelEU Maritime Enforcement Authority

Germany has adopted an omnibus law that, among other justice measures, amends the Federal Immission Control Act to designate the Umweltbundesamt as the national authority for enforcing payments and conformity checks under the EU FuelEU Maritime Regulation. Shipping companies and fuel-related operators falling under German jurisdiction for FuelEU Maritime will now need to plan for interaction with Umweltbundesamt on compliance processes, signalling more structured national enforcement of maritime fuel decarbonisation rules.

23 May 2026, 19:57bundestag.deGermanyEuropean Union

US OFAC Designates Iran-Linked Shipping, Petrochemical and Financial Network Under EO 13902

US OFAC has designated Iran-linked shipping, petrochemical and financial actors and associated tankers under E.O. 13902, adding them to the SDN List effective 19 May 2026. This materially heightens sanctions and screening risk for organisations moving crude, LPG, petrochemicals or related finance through the listed companies, vessels and trade hubs in Hong Kong, the UAE and elsewhere.

23 May 2026, 11:15public-inspection.federalregister.govUnited States

EEA Joint Committee Decision 55/2026 Adds Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/3214 on Offshore Ship MRV and Sustainable Fuel Zero‑Rating to Annex XX of the EEA Agreement

The EEA Joint Committee has incorporated Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/3214 into Annex XX of the EEA Agreement, extending EU rules on greenhouse gas monitoring for offshore ships and the zero-rating of certain low-carbon fuels to Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. This aligns EEA maritime operators with the EU MRV and ETS fuel-accounting framework, meaning offshore fleets and fuel choices must meet stricter data, monitoring and certification expectations to benefit from zero-rated sustainable fuels.

23 May 2026, 08:48eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Economic AreaEuropean UnionNorwayIcelandLiechtenstein

Egypt Notifies Draft Small Craft Hull Construction Standard (G/TBT/N/EGY/590)

In May 2026 Egypt notified the WTO of a draft national standard setting structural design and safety requirements for small sailing craft hulls and appendages. This could tighten market access conditions for small craft exported to Egypt, so designers and manufacturers may need to review ISO-aligned requirements and respond before the July 2026 comment deadline.

20 May 2026, 17:48eping.wto.orgEgypt

IMO MEPC 84 Adopts North-East Atlantic Emission Control Area and Advances Net-Zero Shipping Framework

At its April–May 2026 meeting, the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee adopted a new North‑East Atlantic Emission Control Area under MARPOL, set 2027–2028 compliance dates, and mapped out a dense 2026 work programme on the Net‑Zero shipping framework and related pollution controls. These decisions will tighten future air and plastic pollution limits for global shipping, require significant fuel, technology and compliance upgrades on North Atlantic routes, and foreshadow further obligations on ballast water, underwater noise and biofouling that operators should integrate into medium‑term fleet planning.

18 May 2026, 16:13imo.orgGlobal

Finland Consults on MARPOL Annex VI Implementation and New Ship Pollution Fee

Finland is consulting on draft legislation to introduce a new ship pollution fee, tighten discharge bans and approve MARPOL Annex VI amendments, implementing the updated EU ship-source pollution directive by mid-2027. If adopted, the reforms would significantly raise compliance and financial risks for shipowners in Finnish waters and new emission control areas, requiring stricter control of discharges, fuel use and environmental reporting across fleets.

15 May 2026, 18:33lausuntopalvelu.fiFinland

China SAMR Publishes 19 National Standards For Green And Intelligent Ships

In May 2026, China's market regulator approved 19 national ship-sector standards on new-energy propulsion, intelligent ship systems, corrosion protection, piping components and firefighting. These standards will shape design and testing expectations for shipbuilders, equipment suppliers and operators adopting methanol fuel and advanced safety technologies in the Chinese market.

15 May 2026, 13:25samr.gov.cnChina

French National Assembly Adopts Bill 1502 on Wind‑Propelled Maritime Transport

In May 2026, the French National Assembly adopted Bill 1502 on wind‑propelled maritime transport and sent it to the Senate, advancing a package of tax, labour and energy‑efficiency incentives for qualifying vessels. If the bill completes its passage and is implemented, operators serving French ports and rum exporters could access preferential depreciation, excise relief and decarbonisation funding for wind‑powered ships, influencing fleet retrofit choices and low‑carbon route planning.

14 May 2026, 18:30assemblee-nationale.frFrance

Norway Adopts Greenhouse Gas Intensity Requirements for Offshore Petroleum Vessels

In May 2026 Norway adopted a new regulation requiring petroleum operators to cut the greenhouse-gas intensity of offshore support vessels on the Norwegian continental shelf by up to 40 percent between 2029 and 2040. This will accelerate electrification and the use of alternative marine fuels in oil and gas logistics, creating significant decarbonisation costs and technology choices for operators, vessel owners and suppliers over the next decade.

13 May 2026, 19:00regjeringen.noNorway

EU Council Adopts Position for IMO MEPC 84 on IMO Net-Zero Framework for Shipping

In April 2026 the EU Council adopted Decision (EU) 2026/1067 setting a unified EU negotiating mandate on greenhouse gas measures for shipping at IMO MEPC 84, focused on the IMO Net-Zero Framework under MARPOL Annex VI. The decision signals strong EU support for a global fuel-standard and pricing-based GHG regime for maritime transport, indicating that future IMO outcomes could decisively influence EU MRV, FuelEU Maritime and ETS rules for ship operators.

13 May 2026, 11:52eur-lex.europa.euEuropean UnionGlobal

EU Industrial Maritime Strategy – Commission Presentation Signals Possible EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime MRV Simplification

In March 2026 the European Commission presented its EU Industrial Maritime Strategy to the Council Shipping Working Party, signalling plans to review how EU emissions and fuel rules apply to shipping and ports. For shipowners, ports, and maritime manufacturers this points to future proposals to simplify EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime monitoring and reporting requirements, so compliance teams should anticipate potential changes in decarbonisation reporting and administrative processes over the coming years.

11 May 2026, 11:18data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

US OFAC Sanctions 20 Energy and Shipping Firms and 19 Vessels for Operating in Iran Petroleum Sector

In April 2026 the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated 20 shipping, trading and energy companies and 19 associated vessels under Executive Order 13902 for operating in Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors. These sanctions immediately block dealings by US persons with the listed entities and ships, increasing compliance risk for global crude, LPG and petrochemical supply chains that may rely on them for transport, trading or refining.

9 May 2026, 19:17public-inspection.federalregister.govUnited States

European Union Outlines Shipping GHG and Marine Pollution Positions for IMO MEPC 84 and ISWG-GHG 21

In April 2026 the EU circulated a detailed non-paper to coordinate Member State positions for upcoming IMO meetings on shipping greenhouse gas emissions and marine environment protection. This document signals continued EU pressure for ambitious global rules on shipping decarbonisation, plastics and underwater noise that align with its own MRV, ETS, FuelEU, waste and marine protection regimes and are likely to shape future obligations for ship operators and fuel suppliers.

8 May 2026, 19:00data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

US Maritime Administration Seeks Comment on System-Centric Small Modular Reactor Concept for Marine Transportation

In May 2026 the US Maritime Administration launched a Federal Register request for information on developing a commercially viable, system-centric small modular reactor concept for deployment in the marine transportation system, with comments due by 5 August 2026. The consultation does not propose binding rules but signals growing US interest in nuclear-powered shipping and seeks industry input on safety, liability, port access, workforce, and regulatory architectures needed to scale maritime SMR deployment.

8 May 2026, 11:05govinfo.govUnited States

Croatia Opens Consultation on Draft Regulation for a Single Interface for Maritime Transport Formalities

Croatia has launched a public consultation on a draft regulation that would establish its single national maritime interface (CIMIS and linked systems) as the sole platform for electronic ship reporting formalities, implementing the EU **European Maritime Single Window Environment Regulation (EU) 2019/1239**. The draft sets out definitions, assigns obligations to all relevant state administration bodies, requires ship operators to submit reporting data once via the interface for reuse by all competent authorities, and designates the maritime safety directorate as the national EMSWe coordinator, while repealing the existing 2015 maritime single‑interface regulation once the new measure enters into force.

8 May 2026, 10:56esavjetovanja.gov.hrCroatia

US Coast Guard Establishes Permanent Safety Zones for Rocket Launches Near Boca Chica, Texas

In May 2026 the US Coast Guard finalized permanent safety zones in South Bay and offshore Boca Chica Beach, Texas, for commercial rocket launches, effective from 4 June 2026. These time-limited closures will periodically restrict vessel access during launches, so operators in the area must integrate the new zones and Coast Guard enforcement notices into voyage planning and marine safety procedures.

8 May 2026, 07:59federalregister.govUnited States

EU Council Adopts Decision on EU Position at IMO for MARPOL and SOLAS Amendments

In April 2026 the EU Council adopted a binding decision setting the Union’s common position at upcoming IMO MEPC and MSC meetings to support new MARPOL Annex VI and SOLAS amendments on ship emission controls, fuel-consumption transparency, digital navigation systems and vessel safety codes. These IMO changes, once adopted and implemented into EU law, are expected to tighten air-emission and greenhouse-gas requirements in the North-East Atlantic and raise safety and equipment standards for EU-related shipping, so operators and marine-equipment suppliers should anticipate higher compliance and retrofit expectations over the coming years.

8 May 2026, 07:29eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

Netherlands Amends Energy Transport and Marine Fuel Regulations to Implement EU Directive 2023/2413

The Netherlands has adopted a ministerial regulation updating the Energy Transport Regulation and marine fuel rules to implement EU Directive 2023/2413 (RED III) and shift the 2026 transport framework to CO2-based, sector-specific renewable energy targets. Fuel suppliers, electricity and hydrogen inbookers, refiners and marine fuel traders now face stricter data, verification and Uniedatabase obligations, a new refinery reduction credit regime, and quarterly bunker reporting to ILT, so 2026 contracts, IT systems and compliance controls need rapid adjustment.

8 May 2026, 05:41zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlandsEuropean Union

US Coast Guard Opens Comment on Draft PEIS/OEIS for Atlantic Coast Shipping Safety Fairways

The US Coast Guard has released a draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement on establishing shipping safety fairways and related vessel routing measures along the US Atlantic Coast, opening a public comment period that runs to 22 June 2026. For shipping and port operators, including those moving hazardous cargoes, this is an early-stage but strategic signal that future rulemakings may formalise new routing corridors and anchorages, reshaping navigational planning and environmental risk management along key Atlantic routes.

8 May 2026, 05:40federalregister.govUnited States

China MEM Consults on Draft Conditions for Marine Petroleum Safety Evaluation and Testing Institutions

In April 2026, China’s Ministry of Emergency Management opened a public consultation on draft conditions for institutions that conduct marine petroleum safety evaluation, testing, and inspection. The proposal will formalise qualification and management requirements for offshore oil safety evaluation bodies, so affected operators and service providers should review the draft and prepare submissions before the 30 June 2026 deadline.

5 May 2026, 14:14mem.gov.cnChina