Danish shipping company NORDEN has become the first maritime carrier to deliver verified emissions reductions through the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) book & claim registry, according to a Ship & Bunker report. The milestone came through a pilot project involving NORDEN, Microsoft, and the RSB.
According to Ship & Bunker, NORDEN announced the development in an emailed statement, describing the transaction as the first of its kind in the maritime sector under the RSB’s book & claim framework.
How the Book & Claim Model Works
The book & claim system allows companies to account for and reduce shipping-related emissions without requiring sustainable fuel to be physically used on the specific voyage tied to their cargo, Ship & Bunker reports. Instead, companies purchase verified emissions reductions linked to the use of sustainable marine fuels, while the actual fuel can be consumed elsewhere within the shipping industry.
NORDEN said, as reported by Ship & Bunker, that the solution is designed for customers and companies across various industries seeking to cut emissions from their supply chains, even when direct control over vessel fuel choices is limited.
Certification and Industry First
According to Ship & Bunker, NORDEN became the first maritime operator to obtain RSB Book & Claim trader certification. This certification permits the company to issue and sell verified emissions reductions through the registry to other businesses.
Microsoft, meanwhile, is the first company to use the RSB registry specifically for shipping emissions, as part of the technology giant’s broader efforts to reduce emissions across its supply chain, Ship & Bunker notes.
Following the pilot, the RSB will update its book & claim framework to support broader adoption across the maritime transport sector, according to the report. NORDEN stated it intends to continue collaborating with customers and partners to expand the use of this emissions-reduction solution.
Does This Matter to You?
This development may be relevant for those tracking how the shipping industry is building infrastructure to decouple emissions accounting from physical fuel use on specific voyages. The book & claim model, if adopted more widely following RSB’s framework update, could offer an alternative pathway for companies to demonstrate supply chain emissions reductions without requiring every vessel in a fleet to bunker sustainable fuels directly.
As reported by Ship & Bunker, this is described as a pilot project, and the direct operational impact on bunkering practices, fuel availability, or pricing structures is not yet clear from the source material. Further clarity may emerge as RSB updates its framework and as NORDEN expands the solution with additional partners.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
