Go to content

Biofuel surcharge

Biofuel surcharge increases the use of renewable biogas on Viking Line’s own vessels

Support the increased use of biogas

Fuels account for the largest share of emissions from maritime transport. Since 2024, we have offered passengers the opportunity to support the increased use of renewable biogas through a voluntary Biofuel surcharge. This means that Viking Line purchases renewable biogas for use in its maritime operations as a whole. Depending on the route and length of the journey, the price of this option is EUR 4–12, and passengers who choose it do not pay the EU ETS fee related to statutory emissions trading.

You can choose the biofuel surcharge regardless of which Viking Line vessel or route you travel on. The renewable biogas is not necessarily used on the specific departure you have booked. Instead, passenger contributions are directed to the purchase of renewable biogas for Viking Line’s own maritime operations, in addition to Viking Line’s own biogas purchases. The more passengers choose the surcharge, the more renewable biogas can be used in Viking Line’s maritime operations overall.

Biogas use increased sixfold in 2025

During autumn 2025, Viking Line increased its purchases of renewable biogas, or Bio-LNG, sixfold by purchasing an amount of European biogas corresponding to Viking Glory’s fuel consumption. The biogas purchased by Viking Line is used on Viking Glory and Viking Grace on the Turku–Stockholm route, where the vessels operate using a combination of renewable biogas and liquefied natural gas, LNG. Certified biogas is produced from waste-based feedstocks, such as food waste or agricultural waste. Viking Line’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its maritime operations to net zero by 2050, in line with the greenhouse gas strategy of the International Maritime Organization, IMO.

In 2023, Viking Line bunkered 10 tonnes of biogas, and in 2024 around 600 tonnes. In 2025, biogas use increased sixfold compared with the previous year, to almost 7,000 tonnes. Based on Viking Line’s calculations, the increased use of biogas reduced the company’s greenhouse gas emissions by 50,000 tonnes. This corresponds to the annual carbon footprint of approximately 5,200 average Finns, based on the comparison figure published by Sitra, Finland’s independent public innovation fund.

Important information about the biofuel surcharge

The biofuel surcharge is a voluntary service that can be selected when making a booking. By choosing this option, passengers support the increased use of renewable biogas in our maritime operations and contribute to the ongoing transition towards lower-emission energy sources.

Please note that the use of biogas cannot be allocated to an individual passenger, booking, or departure. The biofuel surcharge does not make a specific journey emission-free or carbon neutral, as the use of renewable fuels also results in greenhouse gas emissions.

We monitor the total number of biofuel surcharges purchased by our passengers. Based on the aggregated demand, we procure additional ISCC-certified renewable biogas for use in our maritime operations. Renewable biogas is currently used on our newest vessels, Viking Glory and Viking Grace, operating on the route between Turku, Åland and Stockholm.

Viking Line does not use revenue generated through the biofuel surcharge to meet regulatory requirements. The funds are used to purchase renewable biogas and supplement our own investments in renewable fuels. Increasing the share of renewable biogas in our fuel mix reduces our reliance on fossil fuels in Viking Line's maritime operations.

  • Why does Viking Line offer the biofuel surcharge?

    The maritime sector’s transition towards lower-emission energy sources requires the introduction of new fuels and growth in demand for them.

    The biofuel surcharge gives customers an opportunity to contribute to increasing the use of renewable biogas in Viking Line’s operations. It also helps create demand for renewable fuels and supports their wider use in maritime transport.

  • Does the Biofuel surcharge make my journey emission-free or carbon neutral?

    No. Greenhouse gas emissions are also generated when renewable fuels are used. The purpose of the biofuel surcharge is not to make an individual journey emission-free or carbon neutral.

    The purpose of the biofuel surcharge is to increase the use of renewable biogas in Viking Line’s operations and to reduce the use of fossil fuels in maritime transport at large.

  • What is renewable biogas?

    Renewable biogas, also known as Bio-LNG, is liquefied biogas produced from renewable raw materials, such as different types of waste and residues.

    It can be used in the same vessels and fuel systems as liquefied natural gas, LNG, which means that the use of renewable fuel can be increased without technical modifications to the vessels.

  • What is the cost of the biofuel surcharge?

    EUR/per passenger/one-way Price
    Stockholm–Helsinki v.v. 9
    Stockholm–Turku v.v. 6
    Stockholm–Åland v.v. 4.50
    Stockholm–Mariehamn v.v. (Gabriella/Viking Cinderella) 4.50
    Turku–Åland v.v. 3.50
    Helsinki–Mariehamn v.v. 5
    Helsinki–Tallinn v.v. 6

  • What is Viking Line’s renewable biogas made from?

    The feedstocks used to produce the renewable biogas purchased by Viking Line may vary from delivery to delivery. Biogas can be produced, for example, from biowaste, food industry residues and agricultural waste.

    Viking Line only purchases renewable biogas whose sustainability and origin can be verified. The fuel must meet the sustainability requirements set out in EU renewable energy legislation, in particular the RED III Directive. This is verified through independent certification systems approved in the EU, such as ISCC EU certification.

  • Will the renewable biogas I purchase be used on the specific journey I take?

    No. Fuel use cannot be allocated to an individual passenger, booking or departure. Instead, the impact of the biofuel surcharge is created at an overall level: each biofuel surcharge purchased increases the amount of renewable biogas used in Viking Line’s operations.

    Viking Line tracks the biofuel surcharges purchased by customers and uses this as the basis for buying a corresponding amount of renewable biogas for Viking Grace and Viking Glory. As the use of renewable biogas increases, the total use of fossil fuels is reduced accordingly. In this way, the biofuel surcharge supports the reduction of Viking Line’s overall emissions from its maritime operations, although the effect is not allocated to an individual journey or passenger.

  • How is the impact of the biofuel surcharge calculated?

    Viking Line calculates the estimated greenhouse gas emissions of each journey in accordance with the ISO 14083:2023 standard. If a customer chooses the biofuel surcharge, this calculation is used to determine the corresponding amount of renewable biogas that Viking Line purchases for use in its own operations.

    The procedure is based on a calculated equivalence between emissions and energy use. It does not mean that an individual journey is emission-free or that the fuel is allocated to a specific departure.

  • Is the biofuel surcharge used to fulfil Viking Line’s statutory obligations?

    No. The biofuel surcharge is not used to fulfil Viking Line’s statutory obligations. Its purpose is to enable additional purchases of renewable biogas on top of Viking Line’s ordinary fuel purchases.

    In this way, customer choices increase the use of renewable biogas in Viking Line’s operations rather than covering obligations that already arise from regulation.

  • Why is renewable biogas not used more widely?

    The availability of renewable biogas is still limited, and its price is currently higher than that of fossil fuels. The higher price is due, among other things, to limited production capacity, the availability of feedstocks and the costs of the renewable fuel production and supply chain.

    Viking Line aims to increase the use of renewable fuels as their availability improves, production capacity grows and the market develops.

Sustainability

Sustainability

Environment

Environment

Circular Economy and Waste Management

Circular Economy and Waste Management

Biofuel surcharge

Biofuel surcharge

Working for the Baltic Sea

Working for the Baltic Sea

Economic and Social Impact

Economic and Social Impact