Fuel Solution News

Switching to ammonia as a marine fuel could create new problems, according to a new study undertaken by researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.The researchers carried out life cycle analyses for batteries and for three electro-fuels (hydrogen, methanol and ammonia). Eutrophication and acidification are some of the environmental problems that can be traced to the use of ammonia – as well as emissions of laughing gas (N2O), which is a very potent greenhouse gas.Ammonia (NH3) is a carbon-free fuel and has the advantage of a higher energy density than, for example, hydrogen.

Classification society ABS said it is using advanced modeling and simulation technologies to develop emergency response methods to assist ports and crew in responding to ammonia leaks or spills.It is the first step toward a comprehensive and fast ammonia release response system, capable of predicting the behavior of an ammonia plume and directing emergency mitigation services accordingly.Thanks to its potential for zero-carbon emissions, ammonia is widely viewed as a promising…

Offshore wind turbine maker Vestas and offshore vessel owner Northern Offshore Services (N-O-S) have partnered up to deploy the world’s first methanol-powered offshore crew transfer vessel to drive down emissions from offshore wind service operations.Vestas has signed a five-year charter to explore how the world’s first methanol-powered crew transfer vessel (CTV) can help reduce carbon emissions from its offshore service operations. The CTV, provided and developed by N-O-S, will be powered by a dual-fuel solution…

Volvo Penta and CMB.TECH announced they are working together to accelerate the development of dual-fuel hydrogen-powered solutions for both on land and at sea applications.CMB.TECH owns, operates, and designs large marine and industrial applications powered by hydrogen and ammonia – fuels that it both manufactures and supplies to its customers. Volvo Penta is a manufacturer of engines and complete power systems for boats, vessels and industrial applications. The companies have…

A.P. Moller - Maersk announced it has ordered six more large containerships that can sail on green methanol as the Danish shipping giant makes headway toward its goal to achieve net-zero emissions across its entire business by 2040.Ordered to replace existing tonnage in the Maersk fleet, the six vessels will be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and will each have a nominal capacity of approximately 17,000 TEU."Our customers are looking to us to decarbonize their supply chains…

Richard Branson’s cruise line Virgin Voyages announced it has partnered with independent sustainability experts, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), along with three waste-based sustainable fuel providers to deliver low carbon fuels to the marine industry. Argent Energy, GoodFuels and Twelve are collaborating with the cruise line to further advance Virgin Voyages’ commitment of reaching net zero by 2050.Recognizing there is currently no one-size-fits-all, low-carbon fuel solution…

Alfa Laval and Swiss engine designer WinGD have established a joint program in which Alfa Laval will develop the fuel supply system for WinGD methanol engines. The agreement was signed on September 8 at the SMM exhibition in Hamburg, Germany.To support shipping decarbonization, WinGD has announced that its engines will be able to run on methanol as of 2024. In making that promise reality, the company has turned to Alfa Laval for the development of a fuel supply solution. Alfa…

Maritime classification society DNV on Tuesday unveiled its latest Maritime Forecast to 2050 report with a new focus on how to overcome the “ultimate hurdle” of fuel availability.The 84-page forecast is the sixth edition of its kind, and this year it considers the comprehensive production, distribution and bunkering infrastructures required to enable the maritime industry’s shift to carbon-neutral fuels.The report also presents an updated outlook on regulations, drivers, future technologies, and costs for decarbonizing shipping.

Lithuanian ship designer Western Baltic Engineering (WBE) is unveiling new designs for what it believes is the first ever electric pusher vessel for use on Europe’s inland waterways called the Electric Eel.Klaipeda headquartered WBE said the first electric pusher is due to be built next year for the Lithuanian Inland Waterways Authority, a public body operating under Lithuanian Government Ministry of Transport and Communications.WBE’s Head of Sales & Marketing Eglė Mikalauskienė…

Danish offshore wind turbine manufacturer Vestas is partnering up with Windcat Workboats to launch a pilot program to explore how "the world’s first" hydrogen-powered crew transfer vessel (CTV) can help reduce carbon emissions from its offshore service operations. According to Vestas, the CTV is powered by a dual-fuel solution, capable of being powered by hydrogen in a combination with marine gas oil. "Hydrogen fuel contains no carbon, signaling the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions while maintaining the same power output…

The $300 billion bunkering market is at a critical juncture due to the double whammy of the geopolitical crisis and the uncertainty surrounding the regulatory framework pertaining to the decarbonization of the shipping industry.“Bunkering has been hit from the trickledown effect of the sanctions against Russia, and this of course has had a serious impact on prices. Pre-war, the global prices were around $750-$850 per ton, and now we are looking at prices above $1,000,” said Alexander Prokopakis…

Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions said it has started building the first of two new car and passenger ferries for Spirit of Tasmania (TT-Line Company). The construction of the Spirit of Tasmania IV, set to operate between mainland Australia and Tasmania, kicked off with a traditional steel cutting ceremony.“Although the actual construction of the first ferry started today, RMC and Spirit of Tasmania already have a long history. The pandemic, among other things, disrupted our plans, but the agreement for the vessels was re-signed in 2021.

Low-carbon biofuels developer WasteFuel announced the launch of WasteFuel Marine, a renewable fuel solution for the shipping sector. WasteFuel Marine’s initial product will be bio-methanol for container ships.WasteFuel said it aims for its marine fuels to reduce CO2 emissions by 95% and nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional fuels.“Methanol has exceptional appeal as a renewable fuel - it can use existing logistics infrastructure, works with proven engine designs and has a lower production cost relative to other renewable fuels.

Norwegian shipping company UECC said its third and final newbuild in a series of advanced dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) battery hybrid pure car and truck carriers (PCTC) has been launched at China’s Jiangnan Shipyard.The December 28 launch comes seven months after the keel-laying ceremony for the vessel and follows the recent final delivery of the first newbuild named Auto Advance, with the second and third vessels set to be delivered in the first half of this year.“We are rapidly building up our low-emission fleet to become the leading eco-friendly shortsea carrier in Europe through t

More than 1000 ships are expected to be ordered per year through 2030, and with growing pressure on the shipping industry to decarbonize, the shipowners must be careful with fuel selection and ship design, as a misstep here can have damaging consequences in the future.This is according to the latest Maritime Forecast to 2050 launched Tuesday by DNV.DNV stressed that shipping decarbonization was no longer just a top priority for the International Maritime Organization (IMO), but for the regional and national legislators…

Marine biofuels supplier GoodFuels and dry bulk shipowner Berge Bulk said they have completed a recent bunkering of marine biofuel from 100% sustainable feedstock on board the 181,403 dwt bulk carrier Berge Tsurugi.As part of Berge Bulk’s ambition to be carbon neutral by 2025, Berge Tsurugi received a delivery of GoodFuels’ sustainable biofuel during its call to the Port of Rotterdam on June 3, 2021.According to GoodFuels, its advanced marine biofuel enables a reduction of 80-90% in carbon emissions…

A group of shipping industry partners are working together to assess the technical, financial and environmental potential of converting existing vessels to zero-carbon fuels and technology as part of the transition to a global zero carbon fleet by 2050.American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), A.P. Moller – Maersk, MAN Energy Solutions, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, NYK Line, Seaspan Corporation and Total are joining forces through the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping to assess the technical…

The world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker vessel was officially named during a ceremony held Friday in Rotterdam. The 135.5-meter-long, 18,600-cubic-meter-capacity GTT Mark III Flex membrane vessel has been named Gas Agility.The first LNG bunker vessel owned by Emerald Green Maritime Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), she is chartered by Total’s affiliate Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions (TMFGS).In February 2018, TMFGS and MOL signed a time charter party for the vessel…

The Lubrizol Corporation says it has become the first lubricant additive technology supplier to join an international coalition aiming to drive the development of commercially viable, zero-emissions deep-sea ships by 2030.A partnership between the Global Maritime Forum, the World Economic Forum and Friends of Ocean Action, the Getting to Zero Coalition is currently endorsed by 14 governments and is composed of more than 100 organizations, including ship owners, ports, technology…

As marine operators and euipment manufacturers continue to explore alternative marine fuels as a means to help lower vessel emissions, technology group Wärtsilä said it has initiated combustion trials using ammonia.As part of the tests, ammonia was injected into a combustion research unit to better understand its properties. Based on initial results, the tests will be continued on both dual-fuel and spark-ignited gas engines. These will be followed by field tests in collaboration with ship owners from 2022…

Finnish-Swedish passenger ferry operator Kvarken Link has signed a construction agreement with Finnish shipbuilding company Rauma Marine Constructions for a car and passenger ferry, set to operate between the Finnish city of Vaasa and the Swedish city of Umeå.Following the agreement, the planning of the vessel can begin with immediate effect. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications of Finland, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and the Ministry of Finance have jointly enabled the quick execution of the agreement.“We reached an agreement in a little over a week after signing the letter of intent. Now begins the real work.

United European Car Carriers (UECC) has signed a contract to construct two new generation pure car/truck carriers (PCTCs) with China Ship Building Trading Co., Ltd and Jiangnan Shipyard Group Co. Ltd.The newbuilding contract also has options for two additional vessels, and the first vessel is planned for delivery in 2021. UECC is jointly owned by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and Wallenius Lines.The vessels will be equipped with a Battery Hybrid LNG Solution which will place UECC beyond IMO’s target for a 40 percent reduction in carbon intensity by 2030.“This is a giant leap towards decarbonization, and unlike anything else that has been done previously in our industry…

The discussion of the ‘future of class’ seems more relevant today than ever, as the maritime industry navigates a transcendent period, with digitalization, decarbonization and a long list of related safety and risk concerns occupying the attention and budgets of shipowners globally.“There are many things going on in the industry, and in fact the world, and looking ahead I think we’re looking at a ‘new norm’,” said Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman, President and CEO. “It’s…