9 May 2025 

On 8 May 2025, we hosted the third Technical Stakeholder Meeting – Alternative Marine Fuels (AMF).  

Formerly known as the ISCC Technical Committee – Sustainable Marine Fuels, the new name reflects a more pragmatic way for the maritime sector names this category of fuels. The change was announced at the top of the session by Ingrid Marie Vincent Andersen (Head of Energy Transition Sustainability at A.P. Moller-Maersk), alongside fellow co-chair Nicolas Robbins (Senior Marine Account Manager Europe at bp) and Dr Dario Formenti (Senior System Manager at ISCC). 

We brought together 192 participants across the maritime, fuels, and certification sectors to explore recent regulatory and voluntary framework developments, updates from key institutions, and emerging industry mechanisms such as Book & Claim. 

ISCC and AMF Certification 

Formenti (ISCC) opened the session with an overview of ISCC’s growing role in certifying alternative marine fuels. The ISCC Association now has more than 320 members. Formenti pointed out he sees an increase in members and engagement from the maritime sector, which also demonstrates a quantitative interest in this sector.

Certification, as Formenti noted, remains a critical tool for demonstrating compliance with both voluntary initiatives and regulatory frameworks:

> Current and future regulatory frameworks: e.g. FuelEU Maritime, RED III, EU ETS, and the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Guidelines. 
> Voluntary initiatives: such as the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). 

The European Commission’s recognition, on 19 December 2024, of ISCC EU for certifying Renewable Fuel of Non-Biological Origin ( RFNBOs) and Recycled Carbon Fuels (RCFs) underscores ISCC’s leading position.   

Formenti also touched on the Credit Transfer System (CTS), an extension of our current supply-chain certification system that connects certified physical sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply chains with the SAF claims by airlines and end-customers (i.e., Scope 1 and 3 claims). He outlined ISCC’s ongoing efforts to extend this system to maritime fuel claims, to introduce trusted Scope 1 and Scope 3 accounting. 

See the full presentation for more information

The IMO’s Strategy and LCA Progress 

Camille Bourgeon of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) delivered an in-depth update on the organisation’s latest developments: 

The 2023 IMO GHG Strategy, dubbed the “Paris Agreement for international shipping,” sets a reduction target of at least 40% by 2030 (vs. 2008 levels), and net-zero emissions by 2050. 

Upcoming mandatory amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL Annex VI) will enter into force in 2027, and apply to ships over 5,000 gross tonnages, covering roughly 85% of maritime emissions. 

Bourgeon introduced the IMO Net Zero Framework, the first regulatory scheme to combine mandatory GHG limits with pricing mechanisms, including: 

> Two-tier GHG intensity trajectories, 
> incentives for high-performing vessels,
> and the establishment of an IMO Net-Zero Fund to support equitable energy transitions and reward zero/near-zero GHG emission technologies (ZNZs). 

On methodology, he updated attendees on progress in the IMO LCA framework, including the Fuel Lifecycle Label (FLL) and Ship Fuel Certification Scheme (SFCS), as well as the role of the Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection’s (GESAMP) new LCA Working Group in reviewing fuel GHG intensity values. Since 1969, GESAMP has advised the United Nations system on scientific aspects of marine environmental protection. 

Bourgeon continued his presentation with notes on the progress in non-CO₂ emissions, including from the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), an IMO committee responsible for addressing shipping-related environmental issues.   

The MEPC’s most recent meeting from 7-11 April 2025 adopted guidelines for onboard measurements of methane and nitrous oxide, and designated the Northeast Atlantic Ocean as an Emission Control Area (ECA). 

Read the full presentation here

EU Regulatory Update 

Luca Colonna (DG CLIMA, European Commission) outlined the EU’s regulatory roadmap: 
> The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) Maritime (in force since January 2024), 
> FuelEU Maritime (effective January 2025), 
> Harmonisation with other sectors through a “basket of measures.” 

He emphasised the importance of certification schemes and the Proof of Sustainability (PoS), which confirms that a fuel meets the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) III’s Mass Balance requirements. Additionally, he highlighted how the Proof of Compliance (PoC) framework currently solves the lack of standardised traceability documents when the PoS is retired at upstream levels of the supply chain. The Union Database (UDB) will be updated to accommodate marine-specific needs by 2026. 

He also mentioned that the CO₂ emission factor for certain fuels can be “zero-rated” under the new regulations, provided that appropriate documentation, verified through certification, is in place. 

Book and Claim in Maritime Logistics 

Inken Ohlsen (Mærsk) examined the book and claim model from the perspective of the logistics sector. The model, which is still fairly new in maritime fuels, allows shippers to invest in sustainable fuels even when supply and demand are not co-located.  

While not yet recognised in formal regulations, she did note that the SBTi has signalled a willingness to accept Book and Claim models for Scope 3 emissions. 

She called for industry alignment to standardise and scale the approach. 

Dive deeper into this topic with the full presentation

Certified Supply Chains: A Shipowner’s View 

Ratna Nataliani, Decarbonisation Manager at Hapag-Lloyd, delivered the afternoon’s fifth and final presentation, offering insights from a shipowner’s standpoint on the critical importance of robust, certified fuel supply chains. 

She explained how the current regulatory coverage of maritime emissions in the EU is fragmented across several instruments: 

1. RED III governs emissions from well-to-tank. This means the first part of the supply chain, from the feedstock’s source, through to fuel production and storage.
2. EU MRV (Monitoring, Reporting and Verification) covers tank-to-wake emissions. This is the phase from storage to usage in a ship or other vessel.
3. EU ETS and voluntary frameworks address usage to customer impacts, affecting the final stage of the supply chain from shipping until the end customer who receives the shipped goods.

She maintained that in the future, the IMO Net Zero Framework will unify these steps globally, creating a level playing field. Nataliani went on to highlight the opportunity for ISCC to enhance certification for bunkering and fuel handling, making it globally applicable. Robust supply chains, she concluded, will enable greater confidence in adopting sustainable fuels. 

See the full diagram for understanding alternative marine fuel supply chains in the presentation

Q&A session & Concluding Remarks 

Our speakers also fielded questions on AMF incentives, evolving regulations, and implementation challenges. ISCC thanks all participants for their contributions. The AMF Committee continues to be a key forum for advancing sustainability in maritime transport.