Biofuels at the forefront: Ulsan port’s vision for a sustainable future

The Ulsan Port Authority (UPA) has announced plans to position Ulsan Port as a major biofuel supply hub in Northeast Asia, as part of its strategy to support the global maritime sector’s transition to cleaner energy.

During a recent biofuel forum held in Seoul, UPA Director Byeong-gu Kim outlined the port’s roadmap for promoting marine biofuel adoption. He emphasized Ulsan’s competitive advantages, including its world-class petrochemical infrastructure, vast storage capacity, and specialised handling capabilities, positioning it as an ideal location for biofuel bunkering.

The UPA’s commitment to establishing a stable marine biofuel supply chain aligns with increasingly stringent environmental regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO). UPA President Jae-young Byeon stressed the practicality of marine biofuels, noting they can be deployed without the need for new vessel construction or extensive retrofitting. “As IMO environmental standards become stricter, Ulsan Port Authority is ready to lead the shift towards alternative fuels,” he stated.

In addition, UPA plans to expand its port-based biofuel supply network and build a competitive, eco-friendly marine fuel market leveraging its advanced infrastructure and technical know-how.

Hong Sun-bae, Chief Executive of the Korea Maritime Cooperation Center (KMC), highlighted the critical importance of collaboration between the shipping and logistics sectors in driving a sustainable economic transition.

The 2nd Forum on the Commercialisation of Biofuels for Maritime Vessels—hosted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and jointly organised by UPA and KMC—attracted nearly 300 participants from shipping, energy, terminal operations, shipbuilding, and finance industries. The event reinforced the growing urgency of accelerating eco-friendly fuel adoption in light of the IMO’s recently approved mid-term measures for greenhouse gas reduction.