In China, China Classification Society reported construction began this week on 8 of 20 inland methanol-powered cargo-and-distribution vessels ordered by Guangdong Chuangying Shipping for service on the Pearl River system, totaling 60,000 gross tons and marking what officials called a shift from “pilot exploration” to “batch deployment” of new-energy river ships. The eight vessels are […]
In China, Geely launched Yuanchun 001, the world’s first methanol-hydrogen electric cargo-and-distribution ship, at Qianhang Shipyard in Hangzhou September 12. The vessel is designed to extend methanol’s role from road transport to inland shipping under China’s dual-carbon targets, cutting energy use by more than 42 percent and reaching 1,500 kilometers of range. Yuanchun 001 is […]
In the Netherlands, on September 15, the Port of Amsterdam launched a €5 million annual Transition Fund running through 2028 to help its highest-emitting tenants and terminals that handle fossil fuels reduce CO₂ or shift operations toward cleaner activities. The fund targets companies emitting at least 2.5 kilotons of CO₂ per year or operating more […]
In Panama, on September 12, the Panama Canal Authority announced the launch of a weekly NetZero Slot starting November 2, reserved for dual-fuel vessels capable of operating on low-emission fuels, offering guaranteed 24-hour transit and flexible scheduling as part of its net-zero strategy. To qualify, vessels must be able to run on fuels with a […]
In the UK, on September 17, the International Chamber of Shipping’s Maritime Just Transition Task Force released new training frameworks for seafarers working with ammonia, methanol and hydrogen, marking the first international effort to align skills and safety standards for alternative marine fuels. The frameworks outline requirements for both junior crew and senior officers, covering […]
In Ghana on September 16, Singapore’s Pacific International Lines held its first local naming ceremony for an LNG dual-fuel container ship, christening the 8,200 TEU Kota Odyssey at the Port of Tema as part of a fleet expansion linking Asia and West Africa. Kota Odyssey is the third vessel in PIL’s new “O” Class series […]
In the UK, Lloyd’s Register on September 16 launched a Biofuel Advisory service at London International Shipping Week to help shipowners, fuel suppliers and producers manage the adoption of marine biofuels through support with safety, certification, compliance and onboard integration. The service builds on two years of development and draws from Lloyd’s Register’s Fuel Oil […]
In Norway, UECC announced on September 15 that Renault Group has joined its Sail for Change program, committing to ship vehicles using liquefied biomethane between Zeebrugge and Esbjerg in a move expected to reduce Scope 3 emissions by 1,000 tonnes annually. Renault becomes the fifth automaker to participate in the fuel-switching scheme, which launched pilot […]
In Germany, on September 17, DHL Global Forwarding and Henkel announced they will use sustainable marine fuel for 9,000 TEUs of ocean freight in 2025, mostly originating in Europe, in a move expected to cut well-to-wake emissions by about 4,700 metric tons of CO₂e, or roughly 85 percent compared to conventional marine fuel. The agreement […]
In Switzerland, the Global Ethanol Association on September 10 launched a new Marine Fuel Sector Initiative aimed at developing commercial pathways for ethanol as a low-emission marine fuel. The initiative invites stakeholders across the maritime fuel chain, including shipowners, asset financiers, ethanol producers, engine manufacturers, and classification societies, to join as founding members and shape […]
