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The best of both worlds: Hydrogen and methanol to power shipping’s future

Stuart Crawford, Managing Director of methanol-to-hydrogen generator technology developer e1 Marine, explains why its technology is shipping’s answer for decarbonisation.
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By Stuart Crawford, e1 Marine, Managing Director

Shipping is reliant on HFO and will be for many years to come. This makes effectively implementing green fuels with varying properties and inadequate infrastructure one of our sector’s biggest challenges. But the reputation of our industry, the health of our planet, and the social licence to operate for tomorrow’s shipowners depends upon a successful resolution.

The pressure to move from traditional bunkers to future fuels has been further heightened with the implementation of new environmental regulation, such as the IMO’s CII and EEXI requirements and the EU’s ‘Fitfor55’ climate package. Nevertheless, time is not on our side, and we cannot wait for infrastructure developments on land and the alignment of global regulation before we act.

Consider hydrogen. Although Germany, to take one example, has invested $10 billion to fund 62 large-scale hydrogen projects and countries such as Australia and Singapore recently signed an agreement to drive the use of hydrogen as a maritime fuel, it is not yet a viable decarbonisation solution for the maritime industry. At present, hydrogen fuelled vessels are a novelty and this is unlikely to change for years to come.

This is not because the industry views hydrogen as non-viable. It is, in fact, because of how difficult it is to scale hydrogen operations, the safety aspects of handling, storage and bunkering, and the lack of regulation.

The bigger picture

Methanol solves the challenges of high-cost hydrogen storage, supply limitation and regulation. It is a chemically effective carrying medium for hydrogen, widely approved fuel type and readily available at more than 85 of the top 100 ports worldwide. It is also cost competitive with contemporary diesel generators. This makes it economically feasible and accessible for most owners and operators. Likewise, its infrastructure is undergoing continued investment from influential countries, like Singapore, who recently collaborated with The Methanol Institute via Nanyang Technological University of Singapore.

Despite the current challenges around using hydrogen as a marine fuel, we strongly believe it to be one of the most viable future fuels. With this in mind, we aimed to develop an economically feasible, safe and realistic solution for owners and operators to decarbonise operations. Rigorous R&D, combined with the expert knowledge of our co-creators Ardmore Shipping, Maritime Partners and Element 1 led to the development of our methanol-to-hydrogen technology.

Taking all this into consideration, we believe methanol reforming for hydrogen generation, when combined with a PEM fuel cell, is the missing link for decarbonising both inland and eventually deep-sea shipping. This is proven by the viability of our methanol-to-hydrogen technology on land. It’s a technology which is safe, offers a pathway to carbon neutrality, and is cost competitive in comparison with traditional propulsion methods.

The e1 Marine Methanol Reformer is a key element within this technology as it enables the effective transportation of hydrogen in the form of methanol. The hydrogen generated from our technology can then be used to either produce electricity on a deep-sea vessel, or as the main source of propulsion on inland vessels.

This combination of methanol and water also increases the hydrogen ratio by a further 33.33% leading to a price competitive and efficient decarbonisation solution. The technology not only reduces emissions by 28% but also produces zero NOx, SOx and PM emissions. Using renewable methanol alongside future efficient carbon capture technology could even result in it becoming CO2 negative.

With an ISO already in place for the use of methanol in the maritime sector, the benefits of a methanol-based, hydrogen-dense, marine fuel also address the safety aspect of carrying hydrogen – negating the need for any high-pressure hydrogen storage onboard.

It is through methanol that we will unlock the carbon reduction potential of hydrogen as a marine fuel and make the use of future fuels a reality for owners and operators today.

Looking beyond 2021

I started my career in the maritime industry with the vision of making a real difference.  Although sustainability was not at the forefront of strategy when I commenced my career over 35 years ago, it has played an increasing role in decision making. I have witnessed the changing tide during my time at Seaspan, Teekay, and Pioneer Marine and it is something I firmly believe needs to happen now. At e1 Marine, we understand the pathway to zero emissions is by no means straightforward. However, by taking into consideration the requirements of owners and operators and realities of our current bunkering infrastructure, we have successfully distinguished a solution for now.

After all, it really is now or never.

 

Published: 7 September, 2021

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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”.
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July 22, 2026

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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

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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.
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July 22, 2026

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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

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LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

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July 21, 2026

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PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. 

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post. 

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024. 

 

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026

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