TIRANA, Aug 26 /ATA/ – Albanian shipping operators will face new requirements to document and monitor greenhouse gas emissions under a draft decision aimed at modernizing environmental rules and aligning them with European Union practices.
The draft, now open for public consultation, would establish a system for measuring, reporting and verifying emissions from ships, with standardized requirements for maritime transport companies.
The system would cover carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, while operators would be required to document fuel consumption and other data related to voyages and ship operations.
The data would be independently verified by accredited bodies rather than relying solely on companies’ own declarations, the draft says.
The rules would mainly apply to commercial cargo and passenger ships operating to, from or between Albanian ports, with some requirements also extending to smaller vessels depending on their category.
Operators would have to submit annual emissions reports by March 31 for the previous year, following verification.
The monitoring system would also collect data on distance travelled, time at sea, cargo carried and ships’ energy efficiency.
The General Maritime Directorate would oversee implementation and approval of monitoring plans, while the National Environment Agency would monitor compliance with environmental requirements. Verifiers would be accredited by the General Directorate of Accreditation.
The explanatory report said the measures were not expected to create additional costs for the state budget, with private operators bearing the main implementation costs, including technical expertise and data verification.
The initiative is also intended to establish a reliable statistical basis for assessing shipping’s impact on the climate and developing policies to reduce emissions, while bringing Albania’s maritime sector closer to EU environmental standards.
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