OceanScore has published new analysis showing that emissions intensity on short-sea trade routes can vary by up to ten times depending on carrier operations, which it says could create significant Scope 3 risk for shippers under upcoming EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime regulations.
The report, Scope 3 at Sea: Intra Mediterranean & Black Sea Edition, is based on more than 45,000 voyages and finds that carrier behaviour, rather than distance or vessel size, is the main factor driving emissions variability.
“The same corridor, the same vessel class, yet emissions can range from 9 to over 80 gCO2 per tonne-kilometre,” said Thomas Smith, Head of Cargo Solutions at OceanScore.
“That’s not a distance problem – that’s a consistency problem. Voyage-level visibility is what turns those hidden differences into actionable insight for shippers and forwarders.”
OceanScore’s data shows that smaller regional vessels emit up to five times more CO₂ per tonne than long-haul ships due to lower utilisation and longer idle periods, with delays causing emissions to spike by up to four times.
MSC and Arkas Denizcilik recorded the strongest efficiency levels across the corridor within the data, while other operators displayed higher volatility.
OceanScore’s report also highlights the influence of vessel utilisation on emissions efficiency, with ships operating at 70% load emitting around 20–30% less CO₂ per tonne-km than those at 50%.
“With FuelEU Maritime and EU ETS entering full effect in 2026, shippers need data that allows them to verify carbon costs accurately,” added Mr Smith. “It’s not about reporting anymore – it’s about control.”
The full report is available via the OceanScore website.
