From 1 July 2026, the UK will formally begin extending its Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) to the maritime sector, with the wider framework expected to expand to international voyages from 2028 following consultation.
For ferry operators serving routes across the English Channel and the North Sea, the UK ETS adds another regulatory layer alongside the EU ETS and the forthcoming Entry/Exit System (EES). As the UK develops its own carbon-pricing regime for international shipping, operators on UK–EU routes will increasingly need to manage compliance under both UK and EU emissions trading systems.