Assessing the Early Impact of the EU ETS on Turkish-Flagged Vessels: Operational and Legal Insights

Abstract

This study explores the early effects of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) on the Turkish shipping industry. Combining empirical evidence and legal analysis, it fills a gap in the literature that has mostly focused on EU-based fleets by examining the indirect legal and operational impacts of the EU ETS on Turkish maritime actors operating under the European regulatory regime. It uses publicly available EU MRV data for 93 Turkish-flagged vessels with complete records for both 2023 and 2024.Three indicators were considered: total CO2 emissions, emission intensity per nautical mile, and annual time at sea. Overall emissions stayed relatively stable while emission intensity decreased and operational activity increased. The results demonstrate that Turkish shipping companies have begun to adapt their operational practices in the light of emerging carbon-efficiency requirements, while full compliance adaptation is still developing. The study further elaborates the legal implications of the EU ETS and its potential influence on maritime governance in Türkiye. Overall, the findings contribute to better understanding of Türkiye’s preparedness for closer alignment with EU climate policies and provide new insights into the country’s role in the wider maritime decarbonisation process.