OceanScore opens Japan office to strengthen regional support for EU ETS and FuelEU compliance

OceanScore has announced the opening of its Japan office, representing the next step in strengthening its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. The opening reflects OceanScore’s focus on providing proximity and structured support for Japanese shipowners and managers as the commercial implications of EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime grow. This has become increasingly important as EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime increase the complexity of global regulatory requirements and the related commercial exposure and risks.

The new office follows a year of increased engagement across APAC and with several Japanese companies. OceanScore already supports clients including Iino Kaiun Kaisha, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, MMS and Meiji Shipping, with additional regional partnerships underway as EU environmental regulations gain momentum.

The Japan operation is led by Jyouichi Syou, Representative of Japan, who joined OceanScore in December 2025, supported by Leo Grayson, Head of Commercial – APAC, who has coordinated much of the regional engagement and preparation for this step.

OceanScore explains that EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime are straightforward from a regulatory perspective as the verifiers manage the technical side. The real challenge lies in the commercial processes that follow: determining exposure, allocating costs correctly between owners and charterers, issuing statements and invoices, preparing for FuelEU pooling and tracking EUAs and balances. 

For organisations outside Europe, the challenge is not the regulation itself. It is the growing commercial workload that follows from operating under multiple systems — EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime, and soon UK ETS. As obligations expand, maintaining control over exposure, cost allocation, statements, pooling decisions, and the associated workflows becomes increasingly difficult without structured processes and regional support.

“EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime apply globally, regardless of a company’s trading pattern. The key is not understanding the regulation, but handling the commercial impact.” said Leo Grayson (pictured, right), Head of Commercial – APAC at OceanScore. “For Japanese shipowners and managers, local support and reliable systems help reduce compliance risk. Our Japan office enables closer cooperation, faster access to relevant information, and an ongoing exchange of practical experience and best practices.”

In recent months, OceanScore has seen rising demand in Japan for exposure forecasting, transparent cost allocation, structured workflows, and region-specific support for both EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime.

The Japan office complements OceanScore’s presence across Asia, with the Singapore office providing dedicated support through structured, data-based workflows for EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime. More than 900 vessels across the region already rely on Compliance Manager, OceanScore’s integrated platform for managing these regulations.

“With the expansion into Japan, we are reinforcing our commitment to the region,” said Jyouichi Syou (left), Representative of Japan. “Japanese shipping is global and systematic. Our task is to support this with transparent, reliable compliance processes that reduce risk and align with established operational standards.”

OceanScore’s 2026 strategy focuses on strengthening its APAC support structure, enhancing exposure forecasting, expanding service frameworks, and preparing clients for the next phases of EU regulation, including FuelEU pooling and potential extensions of emissions requirements for global voyages.

“Japan’s shipping community has always worked with a high degree of structure and long-term planning,” said Albrecht Grell, Managing Director of OceanScore. “Opening our office in Tokyo is a practical step to support clients locally. We recognise the challenges many Asian owners face in accessing and interpreting EU regulations, and we aim to provide the transparency and foresight needed to manage compliance with confidence.”

With the Japan office now operational, OceanScore continues to build a regional network capable of supporting one of the most important centres of global shipping. The objective remains clear: make compliance manageable, transparent, and commercially sound, wherever a vessel is traded from.

“As EU regulations expand, proximity matters,” Grell added. “In Japan, we see a consistent focus on efficient and transparent processes. Our role is to support that reliably and professionally.”