TIRANA, August 26 – Maritime transport operators in Albania will face new requirements to document and control greenhouse gas emissions. A draft decision under public consultation aims to align environmental rules with European Union practices.
Under the proposed system, operators will measure, report and verify emissions from ships. The system will cover carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. In addition, companies will document fuel consumption and other data linked to ship activity.
However, companies will not rely solely on their own declarations. Independent accredited verifiers will check the information and the rules will mainly cover commercial vessels carrying passengers or goods to, from or between Albanian ports. Depending on their category, some smaller vessels will also face the requirements.
Meanwhile, each ship will need a monitoring plan. The plan will identify emission sources, fuel types, consumption measurement methods and data procedures. Operators will then submit annual emission reports by March 31 after verification.
In addition, the system will collect data on distance travelled, time at sea, cargo carried and energy efficiency. These figures will help authorities assess the sector’s environmental impact.
At the same time, the General Maritime Directorate will oversee and approve monitoring plans. The National Environment Agency will monitor compliance, while the General Directorate of Accreditation will accredit the verifiers.
According to the explanatory report, the measure will not require additional state budget spending. Instead, private operators will cover the main implementation costs, including technical expertise and data verification.
The initiative aims to establish reliable maritime statistics and help authorities develop policies to reduce emissions. It also seeks to bring Albania’s maritime environmental monitoring closer to European Union standards.
/a.p./
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