Two Finnish companies, the material solutions firm UPM and the shipping operator Bore, a subsidiary of Spliethoff Group, are to join Ahti Pool, the FuelEU Maritime compliance and carbon credit pooling platform. Bore will bring three dual-fuel LNG vessels currently on long-term time charter to UPM into the compliance pooling system. These vessels can operate on bio-LNG and will generate compliance surpluses to expand Ahti Pool’s base of overcompliant assets.
The FuelEU Maritime regulation, which came into effect on 1 January 2025, requires a progressive reduction in the greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of marine fuels used within the EU’s jurisdiction. Fuel lifecycle emissions are measured on a well-to-wake analysis and fuels with an emissions profile below the established threshold generate tradable surplus compliance credits, whereas those exceeding the threshold face a deficit, triggering either penalties or the obligation to purchase credits.
This regulatory framework has led to the development of compliance pooling solutions, such as Ahti Pool, which allows shipowners and charterers to consolidate the GHG performance of their fleets. This model facilitates the trading of compliance credits generated by the use of ultra-low-carbon fuels, notably bio-LNG and e-methanol, across corporate fleets rather than evaluating performance on a per-vessel basis.
Ahti Pool’s solution aggregates the compliance performance of vessels across its member based, with each ship contributing data on fuel type and voyage emissions, which is assessed against FuelEU Maritime thresholds. Vessels operating below the GHG intensity limit generate surplus credits, which are pooled to offset deficits elsewhere in the fleet. Ahti Pool’s platform provides members with digital tools that integrate voyage reporting, fuel procurement strategies, and compliance optimisation.
Jukka Hölsä, Vice President of Logistics at UPM, said: ‘We are pleased to join Ahti Pool. Their innovative pooling model enables us to reduce the CO2 emissions of our supply chain and comply with FuelEU Maritime. We can now deliver our products with Bore’s ships across Europe with increased efficiency, almost zero carbon, and very competitive prices for our clients.’
Ahti Pool’s list of members now includes fleets from Neste and the Van Weelde Group, as well as ecosystem contributors such as NAPA, Carbonex, and New Asia Shipbrokers. This interconnected structure enhances liquidity and stability in the emerging maritime compliance credit market.
Ahti Pool CEO, Risto-Juhani Kariranta, stated that, ‘[b]y welcoming UPM, we are not only expanding our network with highly recognised partners but also enabling UPM to achieve near net-zero carbon maritime transport on the routes where Bore’s ships operate at a competitive cost level.’
