Maritime transport included to the EU ETS – impacts on Finnlines’ passenger traffic
Finnlines Plc, Passenger Services, Helsinki 4.12.2023
The European Parliament requires maritime transport to join the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) as of 2024. The ETS aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% from 1990 levels by 2030. The new regulation has impacts on Finnlines’ passenger traffic.
What is ETS?
The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) is an essential part of the EU’s policy to combat climate change. The ETS is a cap and trade system that limits the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the air within the EU through an emissions cap, whereby companies covered by the system buy allowances for their emissions. The scheme currently covers large industrial installations and internal European air traffic, and from 2024 international maritime transport is also included in the system. Read more.
Finnline’s actions to reduce emissions
Although joining the ETS is new for shipping companies, Finnlines has been working to reduce its emissions for a long time. Our commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions is reflected, for example, in our investments in the latest vessels equipped with state-of-the-art environmental technology. We are also constantly fine-tuning our operations to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels. As part of our sustainability strategy, we plan to gradually switch to alternative fuels.
Impacts of ETS on Finnlines’ passenger traffic
It is important to note that the expenses associated with complying with the EU ETS will have an impact on our operations and costs. As with similar regulatory charges in the past, Finnlines aims to minimise the cost of charges to its customers and maintain competitive prices by all means possible.
From 1.1.2024, Finnlines will also start buying emission allowances. The environmental fee will apply to all new bookings for 2024 when the booking is made on or after 5.12.2023. The amount of the fee may vary depending on the market price of allowances and quotas.
EU ETS environmental charge / person
Prices valid on the year 2024 ferry trips until further notice.
| Passengers and vehicles | Naantali–Kapellskär or Kapellskär–Naantali | Kapellskär–Långnäs or Långnäs–Kapellskär | Helsinki–Travemünde or Travemünde–Helsinki | Malmö–Travemünde or Travemünde–Malmö |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adults and children 6–17 years | 0,50 € | 0,20 € | 6 € | 2 € |
| Children 0–5 years | 0 € | 0 € | 0 € | 0 € |
| Vehicles length up to 6 m and height up to 2.1 m (including motorcycles) | 2 € | 1 € | 12 € | 4 € |
| Group busses | 4 € | 2 € | 24 € | 8 € |
| Other vehicles | 3 € | 1 € | 18 € | 6 € |
| Bikes | 0 € | 0 € | 0 € | 0 € |
No charge is collected on the Naantali–Långnäs route.