The Regulation shall apply to work and passenger vessels with an overall length of less than 24 metres that are operated in connection with the aquaculture industry within Norwegian territorial waters.

Draft Regulation on Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions for Vessels in the Aquaculture Sector

The proposed regulation establishes national requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from work and passenger vessels with an overall length of less than 24 metres that are operated in connection with the aquaculture industry within Norwegian territorial waters.

Specifically, at least 90 percent of the energy consumed by these vessels during a calendar year shall be derived from energy sources that do not result in direct emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) or methane (CH₄).
If electricity is used to comply with the requirement, the energy shall be sourced from the electricity grid or another zeroemission energy source.
Fuels that produce direct greenhouse gas emissions may be used only to the extent necessary to ignite sources of energy that do not directly emit emissions of carbon dioxide or methane.
If nitrous oxide (N₂O) is produced during the use of energy sources that do not directly emit emissions of carbon dioxide or methane, the vessel shall employ the best available technology to reduce such emissions.
If the energy source used to meet the requirements is a renewable fuel of non-biological origin, as defined in Article 2(2)(36) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2022/759, the energy source shall comply with the greenhouse gas reduction requirements set out in Article 25(2) of the same Directive, calculated in accordance with the methodology described in Regulations (EU) 2023/1184 and 2023/1185.
If the energy source used to meet the requirements is a fuel based on low-carbon hydrogen, the fuel shall conform to the definition in Article 2(13) of Directive (EU) 2024/1788.
The Regulation is intended to enter into force during the first half of 2026.
Vessels with an overall length under 15 metres built after the entry into force of the Regulation shall comply with the requirements from 1 January 2028.
Vessels with an overall length under 15 metres built before the entry into force of the Regulation shall, depending on the feedback provided during the public hearing, comply with the requirements from either 1 January 2035 or 1 January 2040.
Vessels with an overall length under 24 metres built after the entry into force of the Regulation shall comply with the requirements from 1 January 2030.
Vessels with an overall length under 24 metres built before the entry into force of the Regulation shall comply with the requirements from 1 January 2040.