UK’s MCA issues new guidance for ammonia use as marine fuel

The United Kingdom’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has published new guidance addressing the use of ammonia as a marine fuel, representing a significant advancement toward broader adoption of alternative fuels within the country’s shipping sector. The newly released document outlines how shipowners can obtain approval for operating ammonia-fueled vessels. Approval would primarily be achieved

EU awards €7.8 mn for Steesmat Project

The Horizon Europe program of the EU’s Steesmat project has been awarded €7.8m (US$8.2m) to build a medium voltage direct current (MVDC)-based power system that would replace the present conventional alternating current (AC) systems. Thirteen European partners will work together to develop a power distribution system specifically designed to meet the requirements of zero-emission vessels,

IMO initiates a pushback campaign against biofuels

A number of shipping lines and organizations, including Hapag-Lloyd and Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, are launching a significant campaign to oppose the expanding use of biofuels in shipping. They warn that reforestation would be necessary to cover an area the size of Germany in order to meet the anticipated growth of this alternative marine fuel. 18th

Marine fuel sales in 2024 break records at Singapore hub

According to official figures released, record container throughput and increased supply of alternative marine fuels drove marine fuel sales to new heights in Singapore, the largest bunker hub in the world, in 2024. According to figures from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), sales in 2023 amounted to 54.92 million metric tons. In

NYK, ENEOS ink deal for sale and purchase of marine fuel

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and ENEOS Corporation (ENEOS) signed an Agreement regarding the sale and purchase of marine fuel with carbon dioxide removal credits (CDR credit) created through Direct Air Capture with Carbon Storage (DACCS). The Agreement stipulates that ENEOS will procure CDR credits from 1PointFive’s STRATOS Direct Air Capture plant in Texas, the

ISO issues standards for methanol as a marine fuel

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has issued a new document outlining the requirements for methanol as marine fuel. The document, which was created in cooperation with ship owners, operators, classification societies, national standards bodies, and several other technical organizations, aims to standardize the use of methanol as a fuel for ships worldwide. The new standards

GCMD completes final biofuels supply chain trials

The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) has completed the final supply chain trial for biofuel blended with very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), bringing a series of trials launched in July 2022 to an end. The series of trials form a part of a larger pilot to develop a framework to provide quality, quantity,

Suzuki trials sustainable marine fuel

SUZUKI Motor Corporation’s subsidiary in the US, Suzuki Marine USA, will participate in a project aimed at promoting the widespread use of sustainable fuel for recreational boating. This project is an initiative by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (hereinafter NMMA) to promote the adoption of sustainable fuels as part of their efforts to decarbonise recreational

Marine fuel oil exports from China plunge 32%

China’s exports of marine fuel oil fell 32 percent in March 2024 from the same month a year earlier, reaching 1.32 million metric tons, according to recent data from the General Administration of Customs. Industry sources attributed the stronger export volumes to lower bunker prices at key Chinese ports like Zhoushan and Shanghai, compared to

Lloyd’s Register highlights ammonia marine fuel requirements

A new Lloyd’s Register (LR) report has emphasized the need for industry-wide knowledge of operational and safety difficulties when using ammonia as a marine fuel for the maritime energy transition. According to the report, adopting efforts to construct a framework now will allow the sector to avoid delays and build on the strong technological case