Ocean Insight May 2026

Ocean Insight May 2026

Selected matters

This publication by BAHR’s Ocean group provides a monthly update on selected developments in the maritime sector from a Norwegian legal point of view.

Regulatory Norway adopts emission reduction requirements for offshore service vessels On 12 May 2026, the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment adopted a new regulation requiring petroleum operators on the Norwegian continental shelf to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from offshore vessels employed in connection with their petroleum operations.

The regulation targets greenhouse gas intensity, measured as emissions per unit of energy consumed, rather than total emission volumes. The reduction requirement is introduced gradually. The required reductions are 10% from 2029 to 2031, 15% from 2032 to 2034, 20% from 2035 to 2037 and 40% from 2038 to 2040.

The requirement is placed on petroleum operators rather than vessel owners directly.

It covers all vessels that transport goods, materials, equipment and personnel, perform installation and decommissioning services, or carry out emergency preparedness tasks at offshore installations on behalf of petroleum operators. The reduction requirement applies to the operator's fleet as a whole, not to individual vessels.

The regulation forms part of Norway’s broader efforts to reduce emissions from offshore petroleum activities and accelerate the uptake of low- and zero-emission technologies in the maritime sector. However, the regulation has been criticised by industry stakeholders for creating overlap with developing EU and IMO climate measures, imposing significant costs, and providing limited recognition of sustainable liquid biofuels as a compliance pathway (notably, liquid biofuels are excluded as a means of compliance, on the basis that market availability is limited and the shipping sector is already subject to biofuel turnover requirements.).

Key takeaway: Petroleum operators and offshore vessel owners should assess the impact of the new emission intensity requirements on fleet planning and vessel specifications, particularly ahead of the first reduction target in 2029.

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IMO continues work on global shipping emissions measures The IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) concluded its 84th session on 1 May 2026 with several significant developments for the shipping industry, including the adoption of a new Emission Control Area (ECA) and further developments relating to the IMO Net-Zero Framework.

- New North-East Atlantic Emission Control Area The new ECA, designated under MARPOL Annex VI, covers waters around Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Portugal.

Ships operating within the area will be subject to stricter limits on sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter emissions. The ECA will enter into force on 1 September 2027 and become effective in September 2028.

This designation follows the establishment of the Norwegian Sea ECA, which entered into force on 1 March 2026 and will become effective in March 2027, as covered in our February 2026 Ocean Insight update.

- The IMO Net-Zero Framework The proposed IMO Net-Zero Framework is intended to establish a global regulatory framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping.

However, negotiations have been ongoing since Member States failed to reach consensus on the framework in 2025, as detailed in our October 2025 Ocean Insight update.

Although the MEPC did not resolve the differences, Member States agreed to continue negotiations through a series of intersessional meetings, with a view to reaching consensus on a future Net-Zero Framework. Hence, the timing and final content of the framework remain uncertain and will depend on the outcome of those negotiations. Nevertheless, the continued negotiations reflect a clear ambition to develop future global emissions measures for international shipping.

Key takeaway: Shipowners and operators should prepare for the new North-East Atlantic ECA and continue monitoring developments relating to the IMO Net-Zero Framework, which is expected to shape future fuel strategies and compliance requirements.

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IMO adopts first international Code for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships The IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) concluded its 111th session on 22 May 2026 with the adoption of the International Code of Safety for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (the MASS Code). The Code will enter into force on 1 July 2026 as a non-mandatory instrument. A mandatory entry into force is planned from 1 January 2032, though MSC 111 acknowledged that this timeline may be subject to revision. As a non-mandatory instrument, the MASS Code does not impose binding obligations at this stage, though flag states may choose to apply the framework in national certification procedures.

The MASS Code provides a structured framework for assessing and certifying the safety of autonomous and remotely operated vessels across varying degrees of autonomy. It establishes functional requirements and sets out how existing IMO instruments apply to MASS operations, with a view to ensuring an equivalent level of safety to that required for conventional vessels.

The Code also raises practical questions for the industry, including the allocation of liability for autonomous and remotely operated vessels, the role of the remote operating centre (ROC), and the adequacy of existing insurance frameworks for MASS operations. These questions are not resolved by the Code and will need to be addressed by flag states, courts and industry stakeholders as the framework develops.

Key takeaway: Owners, operators and insurers involved in autonomous shipping should familiarise themselves with the MASS Code and assess the implications for certification, liability and insurance coverage as the framework is progressively implemented.

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Industry and contract standards BIMCO publishes CO2TIME 2026: The first time charter party for transport of liquefied CO2 As noted in our December 2025 Ocean Insight update, BIMCO – the world's largest international shipping association and a leading developer of standard maritime contracts – announced plans to develop a dedicated charter party for the transport of liquefied CO2. On 21 May 2026, BIMCO published CO2TIME 2026, the first standard time charter party designed specifically for the carriage of liquefied CO2.

The new contract responds to the rapid development of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) projects and the growing need for a standardised contractual framework tailored to CO2 shipping. It was developed by a dedicated subcommittee comprising owners, charterers, technical experts, insurers and legal advisers, and was subject to wider industry consultation through a sounding board process. The new standard contract builds on familiar time charter principles from the gas tanker sector, but includes provisions addressing the operational realities of CO₂ transport, including venting, vapour return, cargo conditioning, tank preparation and in-transit loss.

Liability and cost allocation follow the party controlling the relevant operational decision.

Key takeaway: Shipowners, charterers and project developers involved in CO2 transport should familiarise themselves with CO2TIME 2026, as the form is expected to become the market standard for liquefied CO2 time charters.

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Maritime organisations issue joint guidance for vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz On 20 May 2026, six international maritime industry organisations - BIMCO, ICS, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO, IMCA and OCIMF - jointly published new security guidance for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Hundreds of vessels currently remain unable to transit the Strait due to the ongoing security situation in the region. The guidance assists ship operators in assessing security threats and planning voyages in the vicinity. It addresses drone risks, GPS interference and vessel congestion scenarios, while also emphasising the importance of reviewing war-risk insurance arrangements, sanctions exposure and charterparty implications before undertaking a transit.

Key takeaway: Shipowners and charterers trading in or near the Persian Gulf should incorporate this guidance into their voyage risk assessments now.

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Other Norwegian Coastal Administration launches new portal for ship reporting On 12 May 2026, the Norwegian Coastal Administration (Kystverket) launched a new digital portal for mandatory ship reporting, implementing the European Maritime Single Window environment regulation (the EU EMSWe regulation) in Norway.

The portal is called SafeSeaNet Norway and serves as a centralised platform for the exchange of information between vessels and authorities. The portal replaces the previous system of separate submissions to individual authorities, consolidating all mandatory ship reporting into a single interface.

The launch makes Norway the first country in Europe to introduce an EMSWecompliant reporting portal. The new system is intended to harmonise ship reporting requirements across the EU/EEA, simplify administrative procedures and facilitate more efficient information sharing between maritime authorities. The portal also supports European electronic identification (eID), enabling ship agents from other EU/EEA countries to access the system on the same terms as Norwegian users.

Key takeaway: Shipowners, operators and ship agents operating in Norwegian waters should familiarise themselves with SafeSeaNet Norway, and update their reporting procedures accordingly.

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Should you have any questions related to the above, please do not hesitate to contact Henrik Aadnesen (Head of BAHR’s Ocean Group), Sondre Vegheim (editor) or Even Torvanger (editor).

Henrik Aadnesen

Sondre Vegheim

Even Torvanger

haa@bahr.no

soveg@bahr.no

evtor@bahr.no

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