What is the EU MRV Regulation? — Regulation 2015/757 Explained

Definition: What is Regulation (EU) 2015/757?

Regulation (EU) 2015/757 — commonly called EU MRV — established the obligation for ships ≥ 5,000 GT calling at EU/EEA ports to monitor, report and verify their CO2 emissions and related operational data. In force from 1 July 2015, with the first reporting period in 2018, EU MRV is the measurement backbone for EU ETS for shipping and FuelEU Maritime.

Scope today and the 2024 / 2027 extensions

• From 1 January 2024: scope extended to cover CH4 and N2O alongside CO2 (to mirror EU ETS phase-in).
• From 1 January 2025: scope extended to general cargo ships of 400–5,000 GT (reporting only).
• From 1 January 2027: further extension to offshore ships.

The monitoring plan

Every in-scope ship must submit a monitoring plan to its accredited verifier. The plan specifies:

1. The ship’s technical description and operating pattern.
2. Monitoring methods (A, B, C or D) per Annex I of the regulation.
3. Fuel consumption data sources — BDN, tank sounding, flow meter, bunker fuel monitoring.
4. Procedures for voyage data (CO2, distance, time at sea, cargo carried, transport work).

The verification & reporting cycle

1. Voyage data collected continuously on board and per voyage.
2. Annual emissions report prepared by the shipping company.
3. Independent verification by an EU-accredited verifier (typically an IACS class society or specialised verifier).
4. Annual report submitted via THETIS-MRV by 31 March of the following year.
5. A Document of Compliance (DoC) is issued; must be carried on board and checked at Port State Control.

Data points required

• Fuel consumption by fuel type and CO2 emissions per voyage.
• Distance travelled (nautical miles) and time at sea.
• Cargo carried (tonnes, TEU, passenger numbers).
• Transport work (tonne-miles, TEU-miles, passenger-miles).
• Energy efficiency metrics: CO2/distance, CO2/transport work (EU MRV equivalent of CII).

How MRV feeds EU ETS and FuelEU

• EU ETS for shipping uses the verified MRV emissions tonnage as the surrender obligation. See What is the EU ETS for shipping?
• FuelEU Maritime uses the same MRV measurement chain plus Well-to-Wake emission factors to calculate the compliance balance. See What is FuelEU Maritime?
• EU MRV and IMO DCS (Data Collection System) have broadly aligned data points but different reporting channels. See What is IMO DCS?

Port State Control and enforcement

From 2024, PSC inspections include MRV compliance. Absence of a valid Document of Compliance is a detainable deficiency. Non-compliant ships may also be published on the EU public list and subject to expulsion orders under EU ETS Article 20.