EU Stage V is an emission standard set by the European Union that limits the release of harmful substances—such as particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon monoxide (CO)—from non-road mobile machinery, including engines used in inland vessels.
Pon Power: the EU Stage V specialist
EU Stage V ship engines
Pon Power is the only supplier to offer a genuine, fully integrated Caterpillar EU Stage V certified system. This ensures compliance with the strictest European environmental regulations and helps future-proof your vessel. Pon Power understands how important this is to you and provides the solutions and expertise to support you every step of the way.
What is EU Stage V?
The formal name is the NRMM Regulation EU 2016/1628, but within the inland shipping industry it is commonly referred to as EU Stage V, or simply Stage V. This legislation stipulates that, as of January 1, 2022, only Stage V certified diesel engines (above 19 kW) may be installed in newly built vessels. For repowering existing inland vessels, the new regulation has been in effect since September 1, 2022.
How does it work?
The integrated Caterpillar aftertreatment system first routes the exhaust gases through a DPF (diesel particulate filter) to capture carcinogenic particles. Next, the gases pass through the SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) system to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. The aftertreatment system is controlled by the engine’s computer, ensuring optimal coordination between the engine and aftertreatment. This guarantees the lowest possible combination of fuel and urea consumption while maintaining optimal (i.e., low) emissions. Additionally, by deactivating cylinders under low engine loads, exhaust temperatures remain high, eliminating the need to clean the passive particulate filter with burning diesel. This contributes to reduced fuel consumption.
The transfer pump ensures a reliable supply of AdBlue from the onboard storage tank to the dosing unit.
This ensures the SCR system always receives sufficient AdBlue to convert harmful NOx emissions into nitrogen and water vapor. Essential for clean navigation on inland waterways.
The AdBlue/DEF Dosing Unit ensures that the correct amount of AdBlue is delivered to the injection lance in the SCR system, depending on the load of the vessel’s engine.
There, it is atomized into the exhaust stream and converts harmful NOx into harmless nitrogen and water vapor. In this way, the unit supports compliance with emission standards at sea.
The Cat 3512E marine propulsion engines are available in power ratings that comply with the strict EU Stage V standards for inland shipping.
Caterpillar combines a fuel-efficient engine with an SCR aftertreatment system, significantly reducing NOx emissions. This results in improved performance and lower operating costs for the user.
ChatGPT said:
A DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) on a marine engine is essential to comply with the EU Stage V emission standard, which has been in effect since 2019 for new non-road mobile machinery, including inland waterway engines.
This regulation sets strict limits on particulate matter (PM) emissions and the number of soot particles (PN), making the use of a DPF mandatory in many cases.
The filter captures soot particles from the exhaust gases and burns them off during regeneration processes, which can occur automatically or actively, depending on engine temperature and load.
A properly functioning DPF system is therefore crucial for clean inland navigation and for obtaining type approval under EU Stage V.
An SCR system (Selective Catalytic Reduction) is an exhaust gas aftertreatment system that removes nitrogen oxides (NOx) from the exhaust gases of diesel engines by injecting AdBlue (a urea solution), which is converted into ammonia at high temperatures. This ammonia reacts with NOx in a catalyst to form harmless nitrogen and water vapor.
The system is essential for complying with the EU Stage V emission standard, which imposes strict limits on NOx emissions, and is widely used in inland vessels.
SCR works most effectively at high engine temperatures and is often combined with a DPF filter for complete emission aftertreatment.
Transferpump Ad-Blue/DEF
The transfer pump ensures a reliable supply of AdBlue from the onboard storage tank to the dosing unit.
This ensures the SCR system always receives sufficient AdBlue to convert harmful NOx emissions into nitrogen and water vapor. Essential for clean navigation on inland waterways.
Ad-Blue/DEF Dosing unit
The AdBlue/DEF Dosing Unit ensures that the correct amount of AdBlue is delivered to the injection lance in the SCR system, depending on the load of the vessel’s engine.
There, it is atomized into the exhaust stream and converts harmful NOx into harmless nitrogen and water vapor. In this way, the unit supports compliance with emission standards at sea.
Cat 3512E
The Cat 3512E marine propulsion engines are available in power ratings that comply with the strict EU Stage V standards for inland shipping.
Caterpillar combines a fuel-efficient engine with an SCR aftertreatment system, significantly reducing NOx emissions. This results in improved performance and lower operating costs for the user.
DPF filter
ChatGPT said:
A DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) on a marine engine is essential to comply with the EU Stage V emission standard, which has been in effect since 2019 for new non-road mobile machinery, including inland waterway engines.
This regulation sets strict limits on particulate matter (PM) emissions and the number of soot particles (PN), making the use of a DPF mandatory in many cases.
The filter captures soot particles from the exhaust gases and burns them off during regeneration processes, which can occur automatically or actively, depending on engine temperature and load.
A properly functioning DPF system is therefore crucial for clean inland navigation and for obtaining type approval under EU Stage V.
SCR module
An SCR system (Selective Catalytic Reduction) is an exhaust gas aftertreatment system that removes nitrogen oxides (NOx) from the exhaust gases of diesel engines by injecting AdBlue (a urea solution), which is converted into ammonia at high temperatures. This ammonia reacts with NOx in a catalyst to form harmless nitrogen and water vapor.
The system is essential for complying with the EU Stage V emission standard, which imposes strict limits on NOx emissions, and is widely used in inland vessels.
SCR works most effectively at high engine temperatures and is often combined with a DPF filter for complete emission aftertreatment.
The benefits of a Cat EU Stage V system
All components of the Cat EU Stage V system work together under a single management system, powered by Caterpillar technology. This provides you with the following benefits:
1
Smart temperature control
The system randomly deactivates cylinders to maintain high exhaust temperatures, ensuring optimal performance of the catalyst and particulate filter, even under low load. Sensors continuously optimize fuel injection for efficient fuel and urea consumption.
2
One integrated system
Your engine and aftertreatment operate as one integrated system, ensuring optimal communication between components. Monitoring and diagnostics are handled by a single manufacturer, who also serves as your point of contact for questions, adjustments, and reports.
3
Controlled AdBlue injection
The correct amount and timing of AdBlue injection (urea) optimize NOx emissions to comply with EU Stage V regulations.
4
Robust, durable materials
Caterpillar’s robust aftertreatment systems are designed for the same long lifespan and maintenance intervals as the engine.
Available in every power range
Pon Power offers a comprehensive range of EU Stage V certified Caterpillar engines for inland shipping, designed to meet the strictest European emission standards. The engines are available in power classes from 60 eKW to 1,350 bKW and are suitable for a wide variety of applications.
Propulsion and auxiliary engines
Maximum performance, optimal efficiency, and ultimate reliability. Propulsion engines starting from 435 bKW and auxiliary engines from 70 bKW.
Marine generators
Cat EU Stage V marine generators are available starting from 60 eKW and are globally recognized for their reliability, quality, and long service life.
Why Pon Power?
Quality thanks to Caterpillar engines
Our EU Stage V engines are from Caterpillar, globally recognized for their reliability, power, and innovative technology. Caterpillar engines meet the strictest emission standards and are built for maximum performance in the challenging conditions of inland shipping.
The only true expert
Pon Power has decades of experience supplying and optimizing engines for inland shipping. Our specialists have an in-depth understanding of the sector's unique requirements, allowing us to always provide the best tailor-made solution for your vessel.
Maximum continuity
We understand that downtime costs money. That’s why we’re not just a supplier, but also your best partner in maintenance and service. With our fast, expert support, you minimize downtime and keep your vessel reliable and operational—always ready to sail.
How can we help you?
Our specialists are ready to assist you with your questions and requests regarding EU Stage V, inland shipping, or other challenges.
Frequently asked questions
ChatGPT said:
The EU Stage V emission standard applies to new engines installed in inland vessels within the European Union. This includes both newly built vessels and existing vessels undergoing engine replacement. The standard applies to inland vessels using compression ignition engines (diesel engines) within specific power categories (starting from 19 kW).
Specific implementation dates apply to inland vessels based on engine power:
- For engines up to 300 kW: Stage V has been mandatory since January 1, 2022.
- For engines of 300 kW and above: Stage V has been mandatory since January 1, 2021.
Stage V imposes significantly stricter limits on emissions, particularly concerning particulate matter (PM) and particle number (PN). While Stage IIIA often did not require exhaust aftertreatment, Stage V typically mandates the use of diesel particulate filters (DPF) and SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) systems.
No, existing engines may continue to be used. The Stage V standard only applies when installing a new engine or during engine replacement.
Yes. You can make use of the subsidy scheme from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. You can receive reimbursement of up to 40% of the costs, with a maximum of €550,000 for ships that were already electric, or €750,000 for ships with a conventional engine. For 2025, €7.4 million is available, and for 2026, €3.7 million. Applications can be submitted until July 31, 2025 (for 2025) or between September 1, 2025, and March 15, 2026 (for 2026).
CCR2 and Stage V are both emission standards for engines in inland shipping, but Stage V is much stricter. CCR2 is an older standard that places fewer limits on harmful substances such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). Stage V is the latest European standard and requires a much greater reduction of these substances, partly through the use of SCR catalysts and diesel particulate filters. Stage V also sets stricter limits on the number of ultrafine soot particles, especially for engines over 300 kW. In short, Stage V is more environmentally friendly and technically advanced than CCR2.
If you install a new engine that does not comply with Stage V, you will not receive approval from the competent authorities. This may result in your vessel being taken out of service or not obtaining a navigation permit.
Caterpillar EU Stage V installations are type-approved according to Regulation (EU) 2016/1628 for fuel type: "Diesel (gas oil not intended for road use)". This means that our installations can operate on fuels that meet the following requirements:
- Sulfur content of maximum 10 mg/kg (10 ppm)
- Minimum cetane number of 45
- FAME content (biodiesel) of maximum 8% (v/v)
This includes, among others, fuels produced in accordance with EN 590 (standard diesel) and EN 15940 (such as HVO), as specified in the Caterpillar Fluids Recommendations manual SEBU6250.