Committee
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee 03 February 2026 [Draft]
03 Feb 2026 · S6 · Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Item of business
Subordinate Legislation
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026 [Draft]
Mainly because of the exemptions, there is a very limited impact on Scotland-based operators. Approximately 96 per cent of the costs are expected to fall on international operators. We did extensive work with island communities and operators, and, as a result, we very quickly decided to exclude fishing and fish processing vessels and lifeline ferry services for island and peninsula communities, for the reasons that I set out in my statement.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Con
Welcome back to this meeting of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee. Item 6 is consideration of a further draft statutory instrument, the draft Gree...
Gillian Martin
SNP
I am pleased to provide evidence supporting the draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026. The ...
The Convener
Con
Thank you, cabinet secretary. What are the main impacts on Scottish businesses and individuals of the introduction of the maritime sector to the UK ETS next ...
Gillian Martin
SNP
Mainly because of the exemptions, there is a very limited impact on Scotland-based operators. Approximately 96 per cent of the costs are expected to fall on ...
The Convener
Con
I see that ferries to Scottish islands will be exempt from the introduction of the ETS and that the exemption will be reviewed in 2028. My brief research sug...
Gillian Martin
SNP
I cannot pre-empt what the review will say, but the reasons for having the exemption in the first place are to do with the islands impact assessment and the ...
The Convener
Con
Okay. Do you think that the tonnage limit will ever come down? If it came down too much, the MPV Jura, which is one of our main fisheries protection vessels,...
Gillian Martin
SNP
A four-nations discussion needs to take place. As you rightly say, a 5,000-tonne threshold applies. The review in 2028 will consider whether the threshold sh...
The Convener
Con
I hope that, in 2028, somebody will remember that I have mentioned maritime protection vessels when it comes to the tonnage limit.The deputy convener has a q...
Michael Matheson
SNP
You said that 96 per cent of the vessels that will be captured are internationally based. What are the primary options that are available to them to reduce t...
Gillian Martin
SNP
There are two aspects. First, there is the fuel that they use for travelling. There are different types of fuel, and fuel switching might be available. Secon...
Michael Matheson
SNP
Are alternative options available for the fuel that vessels use for travelling? It will probably be much more difficult for large vessels to be hybrid or ele...
Gillian Martin
SNP
That is not my area of expertise, but the negotiations considered the different types of biofuels that might be available. It is ultimately for the shipping ...
Michael Matheson
SNP
Unless diesel is being used to generate the electricity—that is the challenge.
Gillian Martin
SNP
I have an example in my mind of a particular port that is using green electricity, but you are absolutely right that, if the electricity is being generated b...
Michael Matheson
SNP
Okay. Thanks.
Douglas Lumsden
Con
How many ports in Scotland presently have the capability for cruise ships to connect and use electricity?
Gillian Martin
SNP
I do not have that data in front of me—I would need to speak to my transport colleagues about that.
Douglas Lumsden
Con
Would it be a good idea to have an audit, so that people can see exactly what is planned at the ports?
Gillian Martin
SNP
It is very possible that the information already exists and that the Scottish Government already has it; I just do not have it in front of me now.
Douglas Lumsden
Con
Would you be able to send that information to the committee?
Gillian Martin
SNP
Yes, I will speak to our colleagues in other departments and get that information.
Douglas Lumsden
Con
Thank you.What is your plan for furthering the decarbonisation of vessels that are below the 5,000-tonne threshold?
Gillian Martin
SNP
You would need to speak to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport about that, because I do not have that information. I do not want to get into something that i...
Douglas Lumsden
Con
I was thinking more about the climate change plan. Is there any mention of how we will decarbonise some of the smaller vessels that are below the 5,000-tonne...
Gillian Martin
SNP
I will need to look into that, but, if those vessels want to decarbonise and stop using diesel, the most readily available option for them would be to use bi...
Douglas Lumsden
Con
Okay. Thanks.
Sarah Boyack
Lab
It would be good to get some joined-up thinking. We have talked before about opportunities for biofuels, and it would be interesting to see biofuels or elect...
Gillian Martin
SNP
I do not have an estimate of the particular emissions reduction that will be associated with the instrument. If there is any information on that, it will lik...
Mark Ruskell
Green
I am interested in how the decarbonisation that will occur as a result of the instrument will link into the climate change plan, which we have just been scru...