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Alternative Fuels

DNV paper outlines bunkering infrastructure of alternative fuels for boxships

Paper titled ‘Alternative Fuels for Containerships’ examines use of LNG and methanol in the container sector including bunkering tech and infrastructure for LNG and methanol.
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Classification society DNV on Thursday (29 September) released a new paper that gathers DNV’s experience in the use of alternative fuels on containerships including outlining bunkering technology for liquified natural gas (LNG) and bunkering infrastructure for methanol.

The paper titled Alternative Fuels for Containerships is the second edition of the paper which now considers methanol. In the first edition, DNV focused on the technical and commercial implications of LNG as a ship fuel in the sector.

In the paper, it was highlighted that the biggest lever for shipping to reduce emissions is to shift to low and zero-carbon fuels.

“With many new options emerging, however, the future fuel and technology picture for the industry is complex and becoming even more so. Picking the wrong fuel today could result in a significant competitive disadvantage tomorrow, due to customer preferences and tightening regulations,” said DNV.

“In the container sector, this is complicated due to greater fuel consumption by the vessels, relative to other ship types, and their long trading distances.”

The report added the vast majority of the fleet today runs on Heavy Fuel Oil / Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (HFO/LSFO) but significant recent newbuilding orders have been made with alternative fuels. These are LNG to a large extent, but methanol has also come into focus. Newbuildings running on methanol have already been realised or are under discussion.

“LNG is a proven and available fuel solution, with an ever-increasing number of infrastructure projects planned along the main shipping lanes, but methanol is picking up. For both options, we look at the regulations, engine and tank technology, bunkering infrastructure and operations, the commercial implications for newbuildings and retrofits,” according to the report.

“We examine the cases for LNG and methanol as bridging fuels away from HFO/LSFO and towards lower and zero-carbon options.”

“With this report and the series to follow, we will examine the most relevant new fuel options for the container sector. We hope to offer an overview of the most relevant factors to consider when shifting to alternative fuels, to help guide your decisions and turn uncertainty into confidence.”

The report highlighted that the LNG bunker fleet is also increasing to serve such ships all around the world in response to the growing fleet of vessels using LNG as fuel.

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Picture49Figure 35 gives an overview of bunker vessels with different tank capacities, and the number of vessels operating in different areas

“Asia and Europe are the main areas of operation. The fleet of LNG bunker vessels is growing rapidly, and these vessels cover most major shipping hubs today. Further developments are expected in the next few years, quickly bridging the gap between supply and demand. Approximately half of the LNG bunker vessels have a capacity of 5,000–10,000 m3, while the rest are smaller,” the paper added.

However the paper said although methanol is well positioned to reliably supply the global marine industry, dedicated bunkering infrastructure for ships is currently limited.

“The location of bunker stations must be carefully considered, with several factors in mind, to ensure safe and efficient transfer of fuel from the bunker source,” it said.

Note: The full paper titled Alternative Fuels for Containerships can be found here. 

 

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 30 September, 2022

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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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LNG Bunkering

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure.
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July 21, 2026

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CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) recently signed a contract with Sinopec (Beijing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd. to build a 12,000-cubic metre (m3) LNG bunkering vessel, according to Chinese maritime media.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028 and will support Sinopec’s efforts to expand its presence in the marine clean energy sector.

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s LNG bunkering infrastructure.

With this signing , CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering’s LNG bunkering vessel orderbook is further strengthened, maintaining its leading position in the global market for small and medium-sized LNG bunkering vessels.

The contract also marked another milestone for CIMC SOE, which has seen a sharp increase in orders and business performance this year amid a surge in domestic LNG vessel demand.

 

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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Nuclear

ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

KRISO says AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.
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July 21, 2026

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ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO) on Thursday (16 July) received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its concept design of a 15,000 TEU Small Modular Reactor (SMR)-powered container ship utilising Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) technology.

KRISO said the AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.

“This achievement demonstrates international recognition of KRISO’s technological capabilities in the rapidly evolving field of nuclear-powered shipping, supporting the transition toward low-carbon maritime transport,” it said. 

Building on this milestone, KRISO will continue advancing basic and detailed ship design, paving the way for future demonstration and commercialisation of SMR-powered vessels. 

Through continued R&D and international collaboration, KRISO remains committed to strengthening next-generation maritime technologies and contributing to the safe deployment of nuclear propulsion in the maritime industry.

 

Photo credit: Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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