11 June 2025 – global material solutions provider UPM and shipping operator Bore Ltd, part of the Dutch Spliethoff Group, have officially joined Ahti Pool, a FuelEU Maritime-compliant initiative aimed at accelerating the decarbonisation of international shipping. This strategic step comes as part of the industry’s broader response to the EU’s stringent FuelEU Maritime regulation, which came into effect on 1 January 2025.
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Smart Compliance Through Ahti Pool
Ahti Pool, an innovative initiative by Ahti Climate, offers a FuelEU Maritime-compliant pooling model that allows shipping companies to meet regulatory requirements more flexibly and cost-effectively. The model facilitates the use of ultra-low-carbon fuels such as e-methanol and bio-LNG, enabling ship operators to pool, trade, or sell surplus compliance credits. This cooperative approach reduces carbon emissions, cuts costs, and offers increased operational flexibility.
“The FuelEU Maritime regulation, in effect since January 1, 2025, incentivises cleaner fuels by penalising excessive greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels. Ahti Pool empowers members to comply while benefiting financially and environmentally,” explained Risto-Juhani Kariranta, CEO of Ahti Pool.
Each marine fuel under the regulation is assigned a well-to-wake greenhouse gas intensity measured in grams of CO₂ equivalent per megajoule (gCO₂e/MJ). Fuels with lower intensity create surplus credits, which can be sold to offset deficits from higher-intensity fuel users.
UPM and Bore’s Commitment to Bio-LNG
UPM and Bore’s decision to join Ahti Pool stems from their long-term collaboration and shared commitment to sustainable shipping. Since 2019, UPM has chartered dual-fuel vessels from Bore, which are capable of operating on bio-LNG as well as conventional marine fuels. These ships were delivered between 2022 and 2023.
All three of Bore’s dual-fuel vessels under UPM charter will now run on bio-LNG, generating valuable compliance credits for the Ahti Pool. This is expected to deliver annual CO₂e emission reductions of up to 16,000 tons, a significant contribution to UPM’s sustainability targets.
“We are pleased to join Ahti Pool. Their innovative pooling model enables us to reduce the CO₂ emissions of our supply chain and comply with FuelEU Maritime. We can now deliver our products with Bore’s ships across Europe with increased efficiency, almost zero carbon, and very competitive prices for our clients,” said Jukka Hölsä, VP of Logistics at UPM.
Janne Kauppila, CEO of Bore, added: “Our work with UPM and the Spliethoff Group is a strong example of how collaborative action drives progress toward environmental goals.”
Strengthening the Network
UPM and Bore’s inclusion enhances Ahti Pool’s role as a key enabler for low-carbon maritime transport and regulatory compliance across the industry. The pool already includes prominent members such as Neste’s tanker fleet, Van Weelde Group, and partners like NAPA, Carbonex, and New Asia Shipbrokers.
“Having UPM and Bore on board significantly enhances Ahti Pool’s capacity for seamless compliance and strengthens the foundation for future alignment with the IMO’s Net Zero Framework,” said Kariranta.
Michael van den Heuvel, CCO of Spliethoff Group, underscored the historical significance of this partnership: “Our long-standing cooperation with UPM reflects our joint commitment to sustainable shipping. Joining Ahti Pool aligns perfectly with our environmental stewardship values.”
UPM – The Biofore Company
UPM is a global material solutions company focused on replacing fossil-based materials with renewable alternatives. Its offerings include renewable fibres, advanced biomaterials, and decarbonisation services. UPM is recognised as a sustainability leader and is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd, with operations in over 45 countries and annual revenue of approximately €10.3 billion.
Bore Ltd
Bore Ltd is a European RoRo tonnage provider specialising in ship owning, management, and chartering. Since 2016, it has been part of the Dutch Spliethoff Group. Bore’s fleet includes LNG-powered vessels delivered between 2022 and 2023, currently on long-term charter to UPM. Bore is known for its commitment to sustainable maritime operations.
Spliethoff Group
The Spliethoff Group, headquartered in Amsterdam, is one of the Netherlands’ most established shipping companies, with over 145 vessels and more than a century of experience. The Group operates across various segments including dry cargo, RoRo, heavy lift, shortsea, and project cargo. Subsidiaries include Spliethoff, Bore, BigLift, Transfennica, and Wijnne Barends. Its fleet is highly ice-class certified and known for operating in challenging maritime environments.
Ahti Climate
Founded in 2022, Ahti Climate is a maritime innovation company focused on helping shipping operators reduce emissions cost-effectively. Its FuelEU Maritime-compliant pooling model enables collaborative compliance using sustainable fuels like bio-LNG and e-methanol. Led by Risto-Juhani Kariranta, a Master Mariner and naval architect, Ahti aims to eliminate tens of thousands of tons of CO₂ emissions through smart compliance strategies.
Source AHTI Climate