Fjord Line is part of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS)
In January 2024, new sustainability regulations came into force in the maritime industry. All ferry companies were required to join the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) – an initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. We are glad to be part of this work.
Here you will find everything you need to know about ETS, what it means for you as a traveller – and why it is an important step towards a greener future.
What is ETS?
The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) is a market-based climate tool with one clear purpose: to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The system sets an overall cap on how much CO₂ can be released, and that cap is lowered year by year. This creates a strong incentive for the industry to invest in greener solutions.
From January 2024, ETS was extended to cover CO₂ emissions from all larger vessels calling at EU and EEA ports – and that includes Fjord Line.
How emissions are calculated:
- 100% of emissions on routes within the EU or EEA
- 50% of emissions on routes starting or ending outside the EU or EEA
- 100% of emissions while the ship is docked at an EU- or EEA port
The phase-in happened gradually:
- 2024: Ferry companies covered 40% of their quota-liable emissions
- 2025: Coverage increased to 70%
- 2026: Full coverage – 100%
What does this mean for you as a traveller?
From January 2024, a small environmental fee was added to all journeys with Fjord Line. The fee is shared between passengers and freight customers, and applies to all journeys regardless of destination.
When you book, the fee will appear as "taxes and fees" in your booking.
We want to be transparent about how this works: the fee goes directly towards covering the cost of ETS allowances. It isn't profit – it's our share of the responsibility for helping lower emissions from maritime transport.
Questions about ETS
The ETS fee is calculated per journey, regardless of what you paid for your ticket. Every time a ship sails, it generates emissions – and those emissions must be covered by allowances under the ETS rules. Because the fee is tied to the sailing itself rather than the ticket price, it applies to all passengers on board, including those with free tickets or promotional fares.
There are two reasons for the increase in 2026. First, ETS is now in full effect: from 2026, ferry companies must cover 100% of their quota-liable emissions, up from 70% in 2025 and 40% in 2024. Second, the ETS allowance price is set by the market and fluctuates with supply and demand – when the allowance price rises, so do the costs we need to pass on.