Connect with us

Business

Nordic leads on shipping decarbonisation front, says International Transport Forum report

Report showcases pioneering efforts made by Nordic countries to reduce shipping environmental impact and encourage more cohesive global decarbonisation efforts.
Admin

Published

6 years ago

on

k8 B8e8PAJ9JRM unsplash

London-based maritime shipping information exchange The Baltic Exchange on Tuesday (24 November) said a newly published research from the International Transport Forum (ITF) concludes that Nordic countries are among those with the highest ambition and greatest number of maritime technology demonstrations in the world.

Consequently, the Forum’s report Lessons from the Nordic Region has showcased the pioneering efforts being made by Nordic countries to reduce the environmental impact of maritime shipping, aiming to encourage more cohesive global decarbonisation efforts.

The report, initiated by the Nordic Council of Ministers and funded by Nordic Energy Research, found that accelerated innovation is important in a sector dependent on long-lasting assets like ships and that policy is a “critical tool” to stimulate the deployment of maritime low-carbon technologies.

“In the Nordic countries, both government and the private sector provide strong leadership in environmental questions,” said Pierpaolo Cazzola, project lead for the report at the ITF.

“Government-sponsored research is thus often accompanied by industry partnerships and cluster initiatives that provide a fertile environment for innovation.

“Many of these schemes bring together multiple actors and ensure a full project cycle from research via the demonstration phase to market introduction and investment finance for customers willing to apply the new solution. 

“This last step has been important to ensure that prototypes find their way into real-life application. It is an approach that holds many lessons for shipping nations seeking to decarbonise their fleet as quickly as possible.”

The report also found that liquefied natural gas (LNG) and methanol (when produced using fossil fuels) do not deliver significantly lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than conventional marine fuels.

Further, the report claims that current policies that focus on direct CO2 emissions are failing as they do not account for other GHG emissions such as methane or emissions from upstream fuel production, creating “inappropriate advantages” for fuels such as fossil LNG.

The report also argues that current policies that focus on direct CO2 emissions are failing as they do not account for other GHG emissions such as methane or emissions from upstream fuel production

The ITF has proposed six recommendations from the Nordic research:

  1. First, the global shipping industry needs to increase the energy efficiency of new and existing ships.
    • The research established that Norway, Denmark and other Nordic countries have proposed mandatory technical or design efficiency improvements for the existing fleet (labelled EEXI) and a mandatory operational goal-based measure with carbon intensity targets at the ship level. 
    • “Adoption of both proposals – or a proposal combining both measures – by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) seems possible,” states the report. “It would help to achieve the IMO’s 2030 carbon intensity target to reduce shipping CO2 emissions by at least 40% from 2008 levels.
    • However, in an acknowledgement of the challenges, the ITF recognises that this would require both stringent engine power limitations in the EEXI-proposal, ambitious carbon intensity targets and sanctions if carbon intensity targets at ship level are not met.

2. The second recommendation calls for leveraging of public sector procurement to stimulate the electrification of short-distance shipping.

    • Here, the ITF praises Nordic countries as a “world leader” in the electrification of short sea shipping and provision of onshore power supply.
    • Specifically, the ITF proposes that electrification be expanded to harbour ships, tugboats and icebreakers by using the public sector’s buying power regarding maritime services.

3. A third recommendation stresses the need for regulations on lifecycle emissions of maritime fuels, calling on shipping stakeholders to support the adoption of a lifecycle (known as a well-to-wake) framework for assessing energy use and GHG emissions of shipping fuels.

    • “Promoting an IMO standard or approval procedure for lifecycle-based carbon emission factors, including in the framework of the IMO Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) regulation, is a near-term priority,” said the ITF. “This is particularly important for LNG, which reduces tailpipe GHG emissions but can have significant upstream GHG emissions.”

4. Recommendation four suggests putting in place carbon pricing for shipping and policies that can reduce the carbon content of shipping fuels.

    • The ITF proposes that inspiration be drawn from the initiatives in place in Nordic countries for carbon taxes, environmentally differentiated port pricing and electricity tax exemptions for shore power connections.

 5. The fifth recommendation advises advancing the discussion on market-based mechanisms at the IMO, urging that Nordic countries support a review to map state-of-the-art carbon pricing (market-based mechanisms).

    • “It could focus on policy practices developed over the last decade and also include findings of the IMO expert group on market-based mechanisms of 2010. From this review, a concrete proposal could be developed, that could assess the effectiveness and feasibility of measures such as, for example, a carbon levy, an emissions trading scheme, a low-carbon fuel standard or a hybrid approach,” said the ITF.

 6. The final recommendation encourages the launch of pilot projects to gain experience with new fuels and accelerate the adoption of safety guidelines.

    • Here, the Nordic countries’ many pilot projects for new fuels make it a “proving ground for the low-carbon shipping fuels of tomorrow”, said the ITF. “Norway in particular has played an important role in the development of international codes on the use, transport and storage of low-flashpoint fuels.
    • Research and additional pilot projects on promising fuels such as ammonia, liquid hydrogen and advanced biofuels, in a range of shipping segments, are important to address technical challenges associated with the use of new marine fuels.”
    • The ITF added that in this context the capacity, experience and leadership of Nordic stakeholders are a “precious resource”.

Photo credit: K8 on Unsplash
Published: 30 November, 2020

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Winding up

Singapore: High Court to hear Norvic Shipping Asia winding up application on 31 July

Application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to Government Gazette notice.
Admin

Published

15 hours ago

on

July 22, 2026

By

RESIZED singapore high court

An application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to a Tuesday (21 July) notice on the Government Gazette.

It noted the winding up application is directed to be heard before the Judge sitting in the General Division of the High Court at 10am on 31 July.

Any creditor or contributory of the company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the winding up application may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose.

A copy of the winding up application will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the company requiring the copy of the winding up application by the solicitors of the applicant’s, Oon & Bazul LLC, on payment of the regulated charge for the same.

The Applicant’s address is Hiridostraat 5, Gebouw Prismatrium, 1101CW Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The Applicant’s solicitors are Oon & Bazul LLC of 103 Penang Rd, #04-04/05/06 Singapore 238467. 

Queries on the winding up application may be directed to the following email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 22 July, 2026

Continue Reading

Methanol

World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to “Arctic Tern” via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel “M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan”.
Admin

Published

15 hours ago

on

July 22, 2026

By

World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Marine fuel provider World Fuel on Tuesday (21 July) said it successfully completed the first green methanol bunkering of M/V Arctic Tern, with EUKOR Car Carriers and SIPG Energy at the Port of Shanghai. 

Arctic Tern is the first vessel in the new Shaper Class series of car carriers. 

The operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to Arctic Tern via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, the largest vessel of its kind in operation. 

The bunkering operation was carried out at Haitong Terminal, Waigaoqiao Port Area, Shanghai Port, with cargo handling operations conducted simultaneously during bunkering.

This marks EUKOR Car Carriers’ first green methanol operation and the first time Arctic Tern has bunkered methanol since its delivery on 9 July. The operation marked the first bunkering at Shanghai Port of green methanol produced locally in Shanghai for an international PCTC operator. 

It also demonstrated the city’s integrated green methanol value chain, spanning local production, storage and bunkering, and established a replicable “Shanghai Model” for green methanol supply.

World Fuel arranged the supply and delivery of the fuel on behalf of EUKOR Car Carriers, working with SIPG Energy as the physical supplier at the Port of Shanghai.

The green methanol supplied was produced from municipal solid waste, ISCC-EU certified, and had a carbon intensity value below 25 gCO₂e/MJ.

Arctic Tern is the first of fourteen Shaper Class vessels ordered by Wallenius Wilhelmsen. With a capacity of 9,300 car equivalent units and methanol dual-fuel capability, the vessel will be operated by EUKOR Car Carriers, jointly owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Hyundai Motor Group. Following her first green methanol bunkering, Arctic Tern will continue her maiden voyage from Asia to Europe.

Xavier Leroi, COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen and CEO of EUKOR Car Carriers, said: “Completing Arctic Tern’s first green methanol bunkering shortly after delivery is a significant milestone towards our decarbonisation ambition for both EUKOR Car Carriers and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. It demonstrates how investments in next-generation vessel technology and fuel flexibility are being translated into real-world operations. 

“This achievement reflects the strong collaboration between all parties involved. Together, we have shown how partnerships across the maritime value chain can help make lower-emission fuels available and operationally viable at scale.”

Mark Tamsitt, SVP Global Marine Sales at World Fuel, said, “The first bunkering event with a new fuel is a significant moment for any shipowner, and our role is to make it as seamless as possible. By connecting EUKOR Car Carriers with SIPG Energy’s proven green methanol capability at the Port of Shanghai, we were able to deliver on reliable supply, fuel quality, and safe processes. As more of our customers bring methanol dual-fuel tonnage into service, we are committed to being the partner that makes these kinds of operations routine.”

Mr. Zhang Da, General Manager of SIPG Energy, said, “Welcoming Arctic Tern to the Port of Shanghai for her first green methanol bunkering demonstrates the strength and maturity of our supply capability. Building on our well-established methanol ship-to-ship bunkering services for container vessels, we have already extended such services to pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs). This bunkering sets a new record for the largest single SIMOPs green methanol bunkering for PCTCs in China, marking another step in building Shanghai’s position as a global green energy hub for international shipping.”

This operation follows Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s announcement on 9 July that Arctic Tern would complete her first methanol bunkering shortly after delivery. The vessel entered service on routes between Asia and Europe immediately following handover from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing.

 

Photo credit: World Fuel
Published: 22 July, 2026

Continue Reading

Ammonia

HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

HPA says the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.
Admin

Published

15 hours ago

on

July 22, 2026

By

HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and integrated energy company MB Energy on Tuesday (21 July) said they have completed a comprehensive risk analysis and developed a dedicated safety concept for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering.

MB Energy said the analysis lays the groundwork for the safe introduction of ammonia as a future marine fuel.

“With our planned ammonia import terminal in Hamburg-Blumensand, MB Energy intends to provide the reliable land side supply infrastructure needed to support this transition across northern German ports,” it said in a social media post. 

Mabanaft Group was renamed to MB Energy last year and merged over 50 existing brands under one identity. 

Separately, HPA said the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

“The focus is in particular on container ships, cruise ships as well as RoRo and ConRo (Container/RoRo) ships,” it said. 

“We expect ammonia to establish itself as an alternative marine marine fuel in the coming years. With our preparatory work, we are already creating the conditions to welcome the first ammonia-powered ships in Hamburg and to bunker them safely.:

HPA added that the import terminal for ammonia planned by MB Energy from 2029 will make a decisive contribution to ensuring the reliable availability of ammonia as a bunker fuel in northern German ports in the long term. 

“The use of an ammonia bunker barge is considered a possible addition to the landside infrastructure to enable ship bunkering in the port and beyond in the future,” it said.

Related: Mabanaft Group renames as MB Energy, merging over 50 brands under one identity

 

Photo credit: Hamburg Port Authority
Published: 22 July, 2026

Continue Reading

Trending