SELECTED HEADLINES ON ALTERNATIVE FUELS & TECHNOLOGIES
BY INTERCARGO – January 2025
DRY BULK SHIPPING FOCUS
J-POWER completes first bulk carrier Rotor Sail retrofit
The installation on board the Yodohime was carried out in December last year with the first voyage completed this month. (Motorship: click here)
METHANOL
Methanol four-stroke engines ready for first installations
Caterpillar has gained class approval for its dual-fuel methanol engines for tugboats and workboats, and is developing ways to deliver hybrid propulsion solutions. (Riviera: click here)
Repsol to invest more than €800M in Ecoplant renewable methanol project
Located in Tarragona, this facility—expected to receive an investment of over €800 million (US$834 million)—will become the first plant in Europe to produce renewable and circular methanol from waste through gasification. (Green Car Congress: click here)
AMMONIA
MAN Runs Ammonia Engine at Full Load, Moving Closer to Introduction
The efforts to introduce the first commercial ammonia-fueled engines took another step closer to completion as MAN Energy Solutions has for the first time run a two-stroke engine at 100 percent engine load. (Maritime Executive: click here)
ExxonMobil and Trammo sign HOA for low-carbon ammonia offtake, advancing the world’s largest low-carbon hydrogen project; 300,000 to 500,000 tonnes of low-carbon ammonia annually
The facility is expected to be the world’s largest of its kind, capable of producing up to 1 billion cubic feet (bcf) daily of “blue” hydrogen. (Green Car Congress: click here)
WinGD early testing of its X-DF-A ammonia-fuelled engine
Swiss marine engine manufacturer WinGD has achieved successful early testing of its X-DF-A ammonia-fuelled engine, with key parameters meeting expectations. (Motorship: click here)
HYDROGEN
BIOMASS/BIOFUELS
Biofuel can deliver significant GHG emissions
Biofuels play a critical role in decarbonising the maritime industry, but their future growth of biofuels may be limited by supply, warns DNV. (Ports strategy: click here)
Biofuels in Shipping
Current market and guidance on use and reporting. (DNV: click here)
CARBON CAPTURE
Liquefied CO2 carrier delivered to pioneering Carbon Capture and Storage project in Norway
K” LINE Group reports that newly built liquefied CO2 carrier ‘Northern Pathfinder’ was handed over to the Norway’s Northern Lights joint venture at Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co. (Ship Management International: click here)
Role of Carbon Dioxide Removal in the NYK Group’s Decarbonization Strategy.
NYK Group has today (27 January) published a position paper calling for ‘a global framework to promote the use of carbon dioxide removal (CDR)’ as a means of reducing ‘Scope 1’ direct emissions.( NYK: Click here)
Solvang gas carrier in ‘world-first’ test of full-scale onboard carbon capture system
Full scale testing of OCCS could underpin wider use in shipping, providing “a significant shortcut to decarbonisation”(Riviera: click here)
TECHNOLOGIES
World’s largest sail-powered cargo ship launched in Turkey
With two 90-metre masts and 3,000 square metres of sails, this vessel is preparing for its first transatlantic voyage in summer 2025. (Ship Management International: click here)
Berge Rederi and Norsepower ink rotor sail agreement for two North Sea cargo vessels
Each vessel will be equipped with two fixed 24m x 4m Norsepower Rotor Sails. (bunkerspot: click here)
DECARBONISATION
Alternative fuel newbuild ordering binge in 2024 pushes global fleet past 2,000 vessels
While green fuel availability remains uncertain, shipowners signed contracts for a record 515 alternative fuel-capable newbuilds, representing a 38% year-on-year growth, led by orders for 264 LNG-fuelled ships. (Riviera: click here)
South Korea launches $680m green fuel infrastructure fund
Funds will go to the construction of green marine fuel storage facilities and new bunkering vessels by 2030. (Lloyds list: click here)
Record number of LNG-fuelled vessels delivered in 2024
A total of 515 alternatively fuelled vessels were ordered in 2024, which represents a 38% year-on-year increase on 2023’s orders. (Lloyds list: click here)
Green fuel sales surge at Singapore
Sales of alternative fuels in Singapore surpassed 1 million tonnes for the first time in 2024, marking a significant milestone. (Ports strategy: click here)
