Nordic energy company Gasum and gas shipping company Anthony Veder have announced an expansion of their strategic partnership to address the upcoming FuelEU Maritime requirements while driving significant emission reductions across maritime operations. The enhanced collaboration positions both companies at the forefront of regulatory compliance and sustainable shipping practices.
Under the expanded partnership, two Anthony Veder LNG carriers chartered by Gasum—Coral Energy and Coral EnergICE—will operate on bio-LNG, serving as surplus generators that contribute compliance credits to Gasum’s FuelEU Maritime pool. Additionally, Anthony Veder is joining Gasum’s compliance pool with additional vessels from their fleet, providing enhanced opportunities for regulatory compliance management.
Strategic Partnership Benefits
Jacob Granqvist, vice president of maritime at Gasum, expressed satisfaction with the partnership’s expansion. “We are very pleased that we can sail both Coral Energy and Coral EnergICE on bio-LNG. This will enable us to flexibly expand the capacity for our FuelEU Maritime pool even further, as demand is heating up towards the end of the first year of the regulation,” Granqvist stated. “At the same time, it’s great that a long-time partner such as Anthony Veder can also rely on us for their compliance pooling needs.”
The collaboration represents a natural evolution of the companies’ existing relationship, leveraging their combined expertise to navigate the complex requirements of maritime emission regulations while maintaining operational efficiency.
Industry Leadership in Sustainable Solutions
Björn van de Weerdhof, commercial and sustainability director at Anthony Veder, highlighted the environmental and strategic benefits of the partnership. “We at Anthony Veder are very happy that our vessels Coral Energy and Coral EnergICE will be running on bio-LNG and contributing to significant emission reductions in the maritime sector,” van de Weerdhof explained. “Joining Gasum’s FuelEU Maritime pool was a natural continuation of our long-time partnership, as we found the service to be the most cost-effective and reliable way to manage the requirements of the regulation.”
The decision reflects Anthony Veder’s commitment to sustainable shipping practices while ensuring cost-effective compliance with evolving regulatory requirements.
Understanding FuelEU Maritime Regulation
The European Union’s FuelEU Maritime regulation represents a comprehensive approach to reducing emissions from the maritime sector. The regulation mandates that ship owners decrease the carbon intensity of fuel used by vessels by an initial 2% from the start of 2025. The required reduction will increase progressively every five years, ultimately reaching 80% by 2050.
To facilitate the transition to low-emission fuels, the EU permits vessel pooling arrangements, allowing one vessel to compensate for emission reductions on behalf of another. This flexible approach enables ship operators to manage compliance costs while gradually transitioning their fleets to cleaner fuel alternatives.
Comprehensive Compliance Pool Structure
Gasum’s FuelEU Maritime pool operates as a uniquely comprehensive and reliable solution for regulatory compliance. The company both manages the pool and supplies the necessary quantities of bio-LNG to compliance generator vessels, creating an integrated service offering that simplifies the compliance process for participating ship operators.
The pool’s operations are validated by DNV, ensuring transparency and regulatory compliance. In the pool structure, dedicated vessels operate on bio-LNG to generate compliance credits that are then allocated to other ships within the pool, creating an efficient mechanism for meeting regulatory requirements.
Environmental Impact and Future Outlook
Bio-LNG represents a fully renewable and environmentally friendly fuel alternative, with life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions that are, on average, 90 percent lower compared to conventional fossil fuels. This substantial emission reduction capability makes bio-LNG a key component in the maritime industry’s decarbonisation efforts.
Gasum has committed to increasing the availability of renewable gas for its customers in the coming years, supporting the broader transition toward sustainable maritime operations. The company’s investment in bio-LNG infrastructure and supply capabilities positions it as a leading provider of sustainable fuel solutions for the shipping industry.
The expanded partnership between Gasum and Anthony Veder demonstrates how strategic collaboration between energy suppliers and shipping companies can create effective solutions for regulatory compliance while advancing environmental sustainability goals. As FuelEU Maritime requirements continue to evolve, such partnerships are likely to become increasingly important for the maritime industry’s successful transition to cleaner fuels.
