At the International Maritime Organization’s 111th Maritime Safety Committee session, safety guidelines for ammonia as fuel on gas carriers were approved, the result of a collaboration among Belgium, shipowner EXMAR and Lloyd’s Register, who drew on more than four decades of gas carrier operational experience to ground the rules in real-world practice. Belgium led the […]
In China on May 18, the Dongfang Qinggang, a 64-TEU hydrogen fuel cell-powered container vessel, left Jiaxing Port’s Zhapu terminal under its own zero-emission power for Hangzhou Xiasha Port, becoming the first hydrogen fuel cell ship in commercial inland waterway service in China, with a 380-kilometer range, 550-kilogram hydrogen storage capacity and a 240-kilowatt marine […]
In China on May 20, methanol bunker vessel Haigang Zhiyuan delivered 1,000 cubic meters of marine methanol to 9,300-CEU ro-ro vessel Gangrong at Shanghai’s Waigaoqiao terminal in the port’s second ship-to-ship simultaneous methanol bunkering operation, as Shanghai builds toward a combined cargo-handling and bunkering service model. Despite multiple hazards, the operation completed without incident. Methanol’s […]
In the Netherlands in late May, X-Press Feeders’ container ship Eco Levant received a bunker of 90% ISCC EU-certified biomethanol and 10% ISCC EU-certified second-generation ethanol at the Port of Rotterdam from inland barge MTS Experience, marking the port’s first ethanol bunkering and one of the first such operations worldwide for a seagoing vessel. X-Press […]
In Germany, the German Aerospace Center said it has begun construction of a floating research platform that will test alternative marine fuels and autonomous systems under real sea conditions, marking the keel laying of the vessel at the FSG Shipyard in Flensburg. The 48-meter vessel, named MODULARIS, will serve as a testbed for fuel cells, […]
In the Netherlands, shipbuilder Damen said it has received class and flag state approval for a methanol-powered tug, clearing a regulatory hurdle that had blocked smaller vessels from adopting the fuel. Existing classification rules for methanol propulsion were written for large vessels such as chemical tankers and did not apply to compact vessels like tugs. […]
In Finland, Finnlines announced that construction has begun on the first of three new methanol-powered ro-pax vessels at a Chinese shipyard, with the ship scheduled to enter service in summer 2028. The Hansa Superstar class vessels are designed for the route between Finland and Germany and will carry both freight and passengers. Finnlines is part […]
In China, Manifold Times reported that state-owned bunker supplier Chimbusco has signed a cooperation agreement with Wanhao Energy Group to jointly develop a supply chain for bio-LNG marine fuel. Under the agreement, Wanhao will contribute production capacity in green liquefied biomethane while Chimbusco brings its global bunkering network and supply chain operations. The companies said […]
In Finland, fuel systems maker Auramarine said it will supply methanol handling equipment for six new passenger and cargo vessels ordered by Italy’s Grimaldi Group, building on an existing supply relationship between the two companies. The ships will operate in the Mediterranean and are designed to run on methanol but can also burn conventional fuels, […]
In Switzerland, marine engine maker WinGD said it has taken the first commercial orders for ethanol-powered engines destined for ocean-going ships, with two large ore carriers to be built in China for Shandong Shipping Corporation under long-term charter to Brazil-based mining giant Vale. The vessels, each capable of carrying 325,000 tons of cargo, will run […]
