More than 40% of nearly 9,000 ships assessed by European climate policy consultancy Kickster fell into categories associated with potential FuelEU Maritime deficits after the regulation’s first reporting year, according to a report by Splash247 Maritime.
Kickster’s Proxy Analysis
The Milan- and Athens-based company analysed 8,973 vessels using public EU monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) data. Kickster’s proxy combined technical efficiency under the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) with operational CO2-equivalent intensity per transport work.
The assessment placed 2,036 vessels in a minor analytical-deficit category and 1,596 in a major category, representing a combined 40.5% of the ships analysed. A further 3,620 vessels, or 40.3%, were classed as having an estimated surplus, while 1,721 were considered close to balance.
| Category | Number of Vessels | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Minor analytical-deficit | 2,036 | 22.7% |
| Major analytical-deficit | 1,596 | 17.8% |
| Estimated surplus | 3,620 | 40.3% |
| Close to balance | 1,721 | 19.2% |
| Total analysed | 8,973 | 100% |
Important Caveat: Not Official Compliance Balances
Kickster stressed that the categories are not official FuelEU compliance balances. The public MRV dataset does not contain verified well-to-wake greenhouse gas intensity, pooling allocations, banking or borrowing data used to determine compliance under the EU regulation. Splash247 Maritime reported that Kickster emphasized that technical efficiency alone was not enough to determine FuelEU performance, with vessel operations and fuel choice also playing a central role.
Official FuelEU Compliance Figures
Official figures cited in the assessment show more than 13,000 FuelEU reports were verified between January and March 2026. More than 12,000 compliance balance reports covering over 90% of the fleet were satisfactory, while around 90% of vessels used pooling.
Compliance Implications for Shipping Companies
For trade compliance officers and shipping companies subject to FuelEU Maritime, the proxy results highlight the importance of moving beyond technical efficiency metrics. Vessels with a potential deficit risk may need to adjust operations, adopt alternative fuels, or participate in pooling arrangements to achieve compliance. Kickster operates a subscription-based marketplace through which shipowners, charterers and other maritime companies can arrange FuelEU pooling.
The analysis underscores that the official compliance balance, which incorporates well-to-wake GHG intensity and pooling, is the definitive measure. Companies should ensure they have verified MRV data and are actively managing their pooling allocations and banking/borrowing strategies to avoid deficits.
Next Steps for Compliance Professionals
- Review your fleet’s MRV data against the FuelEU proxy categories to identify vessels at risk.
- Ensure participation in pooling arrangements if your fleet is not already doing so — official figures show 90% of vessels use pooling.
- Monitor well-to-wake GHG intensity and consider fuel switch or operational efficiency measures.
- Engage with platforms like Kickster’s marketplace for pooling options.
- Stay updated on official compliance balance reports from EU authorities.
Kickster’s analysis provides a useful early indicator, but only official FuelEU compliance balances — which include pooling, banking, and borrowing — are determinative.
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