Splash247: Kickster launches digital pooling platform for FuelEU

A new digital platform has entered the market promising to take some of the friction out of FuelEU Maritime compliance.

Italy-based Kickster Group has officially launched the Kickster FuelEU Marketplace, a subscription-based platform aimed at helping shipowners and other stakeholders manage their obligations under the EU’s FuelEU Maritime regulation.

The FuelEU rules, in force since January 1, 2025, require vessels above 5,000 gt calling at EU and EEA ports to progressively cut the greenhouse gas intensity of the energy they use onboard. The regulation forms part of the EU’s “Fit for 55” climate package and brings mandatory targets, reporting requirements and financial penalties for non-compliance.

While operators can switch to lower-carbon fuels or use shore power at berth, the regulation also allows for banking, borrowing and pooling compliance across vessels. It is this pooling mechanism that Kickster is targeting.

Pooling allows companies to offset a vessel’s compliance deficit with surpluses generated elsewhere in a fleet or by another operator. But the market has so far been fragmented and largely handled through manual, bilateral agreements.

Kickster chief executive Pietro Valaguzza said the new platform is designed to create a neutral digital environment for pooling transactions, with tools aimed at simplifying calculations, verification and contracting.

The marketplace includes a digital board listing available pooling opportunities, a real-time compliance calculator, built-in eligibility checks, and contract negotiation widgets. Users can also access dashboards showing cost impacts and demand trends to help shape compliance strategies.

The platform is targeting shipowners, operators, managers, charterers, fuel suppliers, pool operators, auditors and consultants.

Kickster is offering two tiers of membership. An enterprise account allows companies to use the compliance calculator and view market liquidity free of charge. A premium subscription enables users to list pooling offers and negotiate agreements directly on the platform.

With FuelEU now fully in force and penalties looming for shortfalls, digital tools aimed at turning regulatory burden into tradable opportunity are likely to draw close attention from operators trading into Europe.