Emissions and compliance

Shipping’s climate rules have moved from targets to invoices. In 2023 the International Maritime Organization (IMO) committed to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by or around 2050. Meanwhile the Carbon Intensity Indicator rates every ship each year, the EU and UK emissions trading systems put a price on each tonne, and FuelEU Maritime limits the greenhouse gas intensity of the energy used on board.

Each of these needs the same thing: accurate voyage data, validated before it is reported. BOSS collects it once and turns it into every report, then helps bring the numbers down.

One set of data

For vessels on the full BOSS suite, the data comes through MIRROR noon reports. Because MIRROR data drives commercial and performance reports too, it passes several layers of validation, including cross-checks against SAT-AIS, weather hindcasts and sensor data. The forms capture what emissions reporting needs: daily consumption by fuel grade, cargo quantities, port manoeuvring and daily distances.

For vessels without daily noon reporting, BOSS collects the same data through a single voyage report, an offline form that covers the voyage from the first ballast leg to the last laden leg. Where a voyage carries parcels for several charterers, the cargo split is collected separately and emissions are apportioned by the transport work for each parcel.

CII

With the voyage data verified, the CII report for any vessel is one click away. Emissions are calculated from consumption by fuel grade using IMO emission factors, and the vessel’s attained CII is rated against the thresholds for its type and size. The report shows the rating today and against the tighter thresholds of the coming years, and CII ratings appear on the monitoring dashboards so high-emission vessels stand out.

EU ETS and UK ETS

Since 2024, emissions on voyages to, from and between EU ports have needed allowances (EUAs), phased in at 40% of 2024 emissions and 70% of 2025, and 100% from 2026, when methane and nitrous oxide are included too. The UK ETS now covers domestic maritime as well. BOSS calculates the emissions in scope for each voyage, tracks allowances held and still needed across the fleet, and, through our partnership with Carbon Wallet, lets you buy and manage EUAs without leaving BOSS.

Accuracy here is money. In one compliance review, our team found discrepancies in a client’s emissions data that would have cost them $100,000 in EUAs.

FuelEU Maritime

From 2025, FuelEU Maritime limits the well-to-wake greenhouse gas intensity of the energy a ship uses: 2% below the 2020 reference until 2029, tightening to 80% below by 2050. BOSS calculates each vessel’s intensity and compliance balance from the same fuel data, so a surplus or deficit is known while there is still time to act on it.

Sea Cargo Charter

Sea Cargo Charter signatories report the climate alignment of their chartering activity each year, built up from the emissions of each voyage, starting at the first ballast leg. The method follows CII, but the Energy Efficiency Operational Indicator (EEOI) is normalised by the cargo carried rather than deadweight. BOSS handles the details, including splitting a voyage’s emissions between sub-charterers, and exports the SCC report for the whole fleet in one click.

Bringing emissions down

The long-term answer is cleaner fuels and new energy sources. Until then, there is a great deal to gain from how ships are sailed today.

BOSS simulates routes and speeds in the forecast weather on each vessel’s own model, to find the plan with the lowest emissions for a passage. Slow steaming is the obvious lever, but not always the cheapest voyage or the best TCE, so BOSS schedules speed and course dynamically to cut emissions without adding to the voyage cost.

The performance dashboards find the vessels that are falling behind, in time for hull cleaning, propeller polishing or a change of trade. Acting early helps meet emissions targets and lowers operating costs at the same time.