Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) has been ranked by green lobby group Transport & Environment as one of the top 10 polluters in Europe.

The Swiss-based liner operator’s ships emitted 11m tonnes of CO2 last year on journeys to and from, or within, the European Union.

That made the Diego Aponte-led container carrier the eighth-worst polluting company on the list, which until now had been the exclusive preserve of coal-fired power stations.

MSC’s 362 Europe-operating ships are said to be responsible for 25% of the EU’s container carbon emissions, with Maersk in second place with a carbon output of 8.2m tonnes.

The European shipping industry in general emitted more than 139m tonnes of CO2 last year — meaning that if shipping were a country it would be the EU’s eighth biggest emitter after the Netherlands.

The study also found that emissions from ships carrying goods to and from France were larger than the CO2 from all road vehicles in the 10 largest French cities and the Grand Est region combined.

“Shipping emissions are so big that in five countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium and Norway, the sector emitted as much carbon dioxide [CO2] as all the cars nationally,” Transport & Environment said.

The analysis also showed that about 20% of the EU's maritime CO2 was emitted by ships transporting fossil fuels, namely, coal, crude oil and LNG.

The study recommends the inclusion of shipping in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, via the establishment of a European Maritime Climate Fund, to ensure the sector pays for its carbon pollution.

“Shipping is the only sector with no measures to reduce its emissions in the bloc and yet it does not pay for its carbon pollution," Transport & Environment said.

“Meanwhile, the maritime sector is exempt under EU law from paying tax on its fuel, an effective subsidy worth €24bn [$26.5bn] a year.”