Marine Link
Thursday, March 12, 2026

Path To Zero News

11 Feb 2026

Inside the Gotland Horizon X: Large, Hydrogen-Ready Catamaran

Figure 1. Gotland Horizon X will be the world’s first large-scale catamaran capable of operating on 100% hydrogen fuel (courtesy Austal).

With a growing focus on mitigating climate change and progressing toward the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2050 net-zero target, the marine sector is under intense pressure to decarbonize. Today, maritime transport emits nearly one billion tons of CO2 annually, representing roughly 2-3% of all energy-related carbon emissions worldwide .Substantial progress has been made over the past decade in reducing emissions from small commercial and coastal vessels via all-electric and diesel-electric propulsion (DEP) systems.

05 Feb 2026

'Plug-In' Hybrid Fast Ferry Enters Service

© INCAT CROWTHER

In a major milestone for Auckland’s public transport network, the city’s first plug-in hybrid electric fast ferry has performed exceptionally on sea trials and will soon enter service on the busy Auckland to Devonport commuter route. The vessel achieved a top speed of 36 knots on all-electric mode, with the performance of the electric propulsion and onboard systems consistently meeting and surpassing expectations.Designed by Incat Crowther, built by Q-West Boat Builders with systems integration by Hamilton Jet…

11 Dec 2025

Low-Emission Cement Carrying Vessel to be Dual-Fuel Methanol

The new methanol-powered cement carrier is designed to cut emissions by 80%, according to Heidelberg Materials. Image courtesy Heidelberg Materials

Heidelberg Materials Northern Europe has taken a decisive step toward low-emission coastal logistics with the development of a next-generation methanol-powered cement carrier, an 80% emissions-cutting vessel that could redefine short-sea bulk operations in Scandinavia. Planned to enter service in early 2028, the newbuild is the product of a multi-stakeholder public-private partnership involving the Hartmann Group, the Green Shipping Programme (GSP) and the Norwegian NOx Fund,…

29 Dec 2024

INSIGHTS: Timo Vesala, ABB Marine & Ports

A representation of ABB’s grid to propeller system. Image courtesy ABB

Timo Vesala, Account Manager, Americas, at ABB Marine & Ports, is responsible for newbuild sales in the Americas market. Since joining ABB in 2018, he has gathered extensive experience in the marine industry with a focus on electrification and propulsion systems. He holds a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Aalto University, Finland, and has a passion for clean technology and maritime decarbonization. This month, in our annual Power & Propulsion edition, he weighs…

12 Dec 2023

X-Press Feeders to Use Green Methanol in Q2 2024

(Photo: X-Press Feeders)

Singapore-based container shipper X-Press Feeders plans to use green methanol bunker to fuel part of its fleet in Europe in the second quarter of 2024, a senior executive said on Tuesday.The move comes as the European Union will extend its Emissions Trading System (ETS) next year to cover carbon dioxide emissions for all ships of 5,000 gross tonnage and above entering EU ports.Shippers can buy carbon credits to offset emissions or burn lower-carbon fuels such as methanol and biofuels, although supply of these fuels is limited.

27 Oct 2022

Floating on Bubbles: Carnival Corp expands use of Air Lubrication to cut Emissions

A 'bubble carpet' aims to help ships reduce drag and consumption. Image courtesy Silverstream

As the ship owners globally experiment with technologies to help incrementally cut emissions to meet stringent new IMO mandates, news out of south Florida indicates that Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise company, has made plans to expand the installation and use of Air Lubrication Systems (ALS) to a majority of the cruise line brands in its fleet through 2027; a move the cruise major expects witll generate "significant savings in fuel consumption and carbon emissions" by reducing hull drag by approximately 5% per ship.The pick for air lubrication is the Silverstream System ALS…

06 Oct 2022

FPS Maas: Tip of the Spear in a Fleet of Zero-emission Inland Vessels

Image courtesy EST-Floattech

EST-Floattech is a part of the FPS Maas retrofit project from Future Proof Shipping and Holland Shipyards Group, both of which are working on sustainable projects, where HSG builds or retrofits the ships, and FPS, as the zero-emissions shipowner, offers sustainable marine transportation services.With the ‘FPS Maas’, FPS is en route to build and operate a fleet of 10 zero-emission inland and short-sea vessels. For HSG the refit of the ‘Maas’ is part of its ambition to work on a greener and more sustainable shipping industry.