From Regulation to Strategy:

How EU and IMOs New Fuel Standards Impact the Norwegian Shipping Fleet

This project examines how the EU’s FuelEU Maritime and the IMO’s potential forthcoming Global Fuel Standard will influence Norwegian shipowners’ strategic choices — from fleet size and composition to technology adoption and fuel pathways. Both frameworks cap onboard energy GHG-intensity, while FuelEU Maritime also introduces on-shore power/zero-emission at berth requirements for selected EU/EEA ports from 2030. We analyse the legal boundaries, operational and financial impacts, and the evolving risk landscape for the industry.

We combine legal doctrine (to interpret obligations, liabilities, enforcement, and interactions with Norwegian law) with quantitative modelling (to compare compliance routes such as efficiency upgrades, alternative fuels, OPS investments, routing, and speed strategies). In close collaboration with industry partners, we will gather data (interviews and secondary sources), run workshops/breakfast seminars, and build logistics and optimisation models that simulate multiple implementation scenarios and their cost, risk, and competitiveness implications.

Objectives

Provide decision support for sustainable fleet renewal and retrofits under tightening GHG-intensity limits.
Identify capability, data, and collaboration needs across owners, operators, ports, energy suppliers, and regulators.
Map where regulation constrains vs. enables strategic advantage, including timing of investments and contracting.

The project is lead by:

Ellen J. Eftestøl, Professor, Department of Law and Governance

See BI’s news article (in Norwegian): Oslo Maritime Foundation supports BI research

Learn more about the foundation at oslomaritimestiftelse.no.