Tallink’s shuttle vessel MyStar has joined Gasum’s FuelEU Maritime compliance pool following a new bio-LNG supply and pooling agreement between the Nordic energy company and Tallink’s long-standing fuel provider Elenger. The deal, announced on 1 December, will see Gasum supply Elenger with liquefied biomethane from its Pori terminal for use on the ferry, which operates on the Tallinn to Helsinki route.
The arrangement allows MyStar to generate compliance surpluses under the FuelEU Maritime regulation. These units can be allocated to other vessels within Gasum’s pool that do not meet the mandated reduction in greenhouse gas intensity during the reporting year ending 31 December.
FuelEU Maritime places progressively tighter limits on the carbon intensity of energy used by vessels calling at EU ports. The regulation is intended to accelerate the shift away from traditional fossil fuels toward lower emission alternatives such as LNG and bio-LNG. Pooling enables shipping companies to balance the performance of different vessels, either within their own fleet or through co-operation with external partners.
Gasum, which is owned by the Finnish state, has sought to establish itself as a prominent provider of pooling services. The company recently began publishing a daily price for its compliance units per tonne of CO2 emitted, a move that introduces additional price visibility for operators navigating the regulation. Similar bio-LNG supply and pooling agreements have been signed in recent months with Wallenius Sol and Anthony Veder.
Jacob Granqvist, Gasum’s VP for maritime, said: ‘We are very happy to welcome Tallink MyStar into the Gasum FuelEU Maritime pool as a compliance generator. Because of this agreement with Elenger and Tallink, we are able to strengthen our FuelEU Maritime pool with yet another vessel, expanding our ability to support our customers in need of compliance. As the end of the year draws closer, we are doing our best to secure as much compliance as possible.’
Tallink operates 11 passenger and cargo vessels across Estonia, Finland and Sweden, and is preparing a broader switch to renewable gases across its shuttle fleet. Paavo Nõgene, CEO of Tallink, said: ‘Our goal is to fully replace the LNG needs of both shuttle vessels, MyStar and Megastar, with liquefied biomethane within the next year. This means that both our passenger and freight customers can reduce their environmental impact by choosing to travel with Tallink. This remains very important for us.’
Elenger, which has supplied and bunkered LNG to Tallink vessels since 2017, framed the transition as a continuation of an established decarbonisation pathway. Elenger’s CEO, Margus Kaasik, said: ‘Tallink is setting an example for other operators in the Baltic Sea. Tallink was one of the first to invest in new technology and began using LNG as early as 2017. Elenger has supported them throughout this journey providing and bunkering LNG to the vessels, and we are happy to help take the next step now toward renewable bio-LNG.’
