REPORT: Compliance Checklist for Decarbonising Maritime Shipping
Summary
Authors:
Mehal Patni
Jil Sheth
Mercedes Maroto-Valer
John Andresen
Heriot-Watt University
Compliance Checklist for Decarbonising Maritime Shipping
March 2026
The regulatory landscape for maritime decarbonisation has become a dense web of overlapping international, EU, and UK regulations. This report offers a clear, compliance-focused overview of some key regulations that drive maritime decarbonisation globally, in the EU, and the UK. It organises the complex compliance requirements into four practical focus areas: reducing emissions and adopting alternative fuels, monitoring and reporting, emissions trading, and port state controls. Designed as a “compliance checklist” for ship operators and port companies, it outlines regulatory coverage, exemptions, responsibilities, and required documentation. By consolidating diverse instruments into one framework, the report helps stakeholders align fleet decarbonisation strategies, fuel choices, data systems, and contracts with evolving compliance obligations. It also highlights the importance of staying alert to policy changes and investing in digital solutions to manage compliance risks effectively.
Associated Research
This output is delivered in collaboration with CGI and Maritime UK as highlighted in the document, as part of the ‘MaritimeTwin: Maritime Emissions Reduction Through Digital Twin and Satellite Technology Integration’ Innovate UK project. MaritimeTwin project is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 6 (CMDC6), funded by UK Government through the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme in the Department for Transport.
