Alternative Fuels

Fincantieri discusses cruise vessel design amidst an unclear future regulatory environment

Realizing that the future in terms of alternative bunker fuels, technologies and regulations is very volatile, our only option is to build competencies in all fields, states spokesman.

Published

3 years ago

August 17, 2023

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Marco Bognolo, Vice President Basic Design, Merchant Ship Business Unit, Fincantieri, in May sat down with classification society DNV for an interview on shipbuilding operations amidst an unclear future regulatory environment.

Bognolo has extensive experience previously gained in various disciplines of the technical department, in project management and as senior designer for cruise ships. Over the past decade he has been coordinating the technical definition of the prototype designs for passenger vessels developed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.

The following is an excerpt from the full DNV interview here:

DNV: What is your approach to the different alternative fuel options being discussed for shipping?

Bognolo: Realizing that the future in terms of alternative fuels, technologies and regulations is very volatile, our only option is to build competencies in all fields. This includes exploring zero-carbon fuels like hydrogen and ammonia as potential solutions in case the current tank-to-wake regulatory approach will prevail and the only way to decarbonize will be to have no carbon in the fuel at all. Three years ago, we completed an experimental fuel cell installation to fully understand this technology. If future regulations prefer a well-to-wake approach, biofuels or e-fuels could become the most viable solution.

DNV: What impact does that diversity have on vessel design?

Bognolo: Looking at this variable scenario, we need to build and design projects with a great deal of flexibility. LNG is important today because in the current regulatory scenario it delivers a clear reduction in carbon dioxide emissions towards requirements like the EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index) or CII (Carbon Intensity Indicator). We need to build flexible designs that can operate on bridge technologies like LNG or methanol now and on other fuels or technologies in the future so that we can gradually minimize emissions.

DNV: How far do you expect fuel cell technology to take you?

Bognolo: I do not see fuel cells taking over the entire energy supply required on a cruise vessel. It is not only a matter of total energy requirement but also operability. Based on our studies we now know that fuel cells are not capable of scaling a load ramp. They cannot react to sudden variations in energy load in the way an internal combustion engine can. I do not see a scenario in the future where we only have fuel cells. Rather, several technologies will be combined to cover the entire energy demand, for example fuel cells, batteries along with internal combustion engines to handle the demand fluctuations.

DNV: What future pathways do you see for LNG-fuelled ships built today when regulations tighten?

Bognolo: Several scenarios are imaginable. Some volumes of renewable LNG are already available today, and some cruise brands already use it as blend-in fuel. As long as the demand keeps increasing, I expect the availability of bio-LNG to increase as well. There may be a point in the far future where vessels will run on bio-LNG only and the regulation will have shifted from tank-to-wake to well-to-wake, and then we will be all set in terms of net zero. Another potential scenario occurs if the well-to-wake approach is not agreed. In that case we may have to opt for more complex solutions, for instance using LNG with fuel cells. A reformer would feed the fuel cells with hydrogen, and the resulting carbon dioxide would be captured.

DNV: How do you tackle the safety challenges that come with alternative fuels?

Bognolo: The companies of our group cooperate from the very beginning to ensure a safe product. We perform thorough simulations and hazard identification analyses during the pre-design phase of our projects. It is also important to involve suppliers and partner with class societies and flag authorities from early design stages because we need their expertise and capabilities during the definition of a new project to ensure we implement all possible mitigations.

Source: DNV
Photo credit: Fincantieri
Published: 17 August, 2023

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Methanol

VTTI Dalian completes first large-scale green methanol loading for bunkering

VTTI said its Dalian terminal has successfully completed its first commercial vessel loading of large-scale green methanol, which will be supplied as marine fuel upon arrival in Shanghai.

Published

21 hours ago

July 10, 2026

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VTTI Dalian completes first large-scale green methanol loading for bunkering

Rotterdam-based storage terminal owner VTTI, co-owned by Vitol, IFM, and Adnoc, on Thursday (9 July) said its Dalian terminal has successfully completed its first commercial vessel loading of large-scale green methanol, marking an important milestone under its long-term green methanol storage and handling contract.

This milestone represents an important step in establishing Northeast China as a key logistics hub for sustainable marine fuels.

The cargo will be supplied as marine fuel upon arrival in Shanghai, supporting the development of low-carbon shipping.

Janice Kuan, Senior Vice President Commercial at VTTI, said: “This milestone reflects our continued commitment to enabling the energy transition. By supporting long-term green methanol storage and handling at VTTI Dalian, we are helping our partners build reliable supply chains for cleaner marine fuels while advancing VTTI’s strategy to lead in sustainable infrastructure.”

Strategically located at Dalian Port – the only main port for Northeast China – VTTI Dalian is an independent public terminal serving chemical producers and traders inland.

With four jetties for vessels up to 50,000 DWT, dedicated chemical storage, and multimodal access, the terminal is a critical logistics hub for sustainable fuel distribution.

Photo credit: VTTI
Published: 10 July, 2026

Financial Result

KPI OceanConnect pre-tax earnings up 21% for FY2025/2026

Company delivered 13 million mt of marine fuel, increasing revenue to USD 6.2 billion and Earnings Before Tax increased by 21% to USD 10.9 million.

Published

21 hours ago

July 10, 2026

Admin

KPI OceanConnect appoints Dorthe Bendtsen as interim CEO

Global provider of marine energy solutions KPI OceanConnect on Thursday (9 July) announced its financial results for the year 2025/2026.

The company delivered 13 million metric tonnes (mt) of marine fuel, increasing revenue to USD 6.2 billion and Earnings Before Tax increased by 21% to USD 10.9 million.

“The results reflect a year of strong operational performance, business expansion and continued investment in supporting the maritime industry’s energy transition amid heightened volatility,” it said.

In January this year, the company completed the strategic integration of marine fuel company Baseblue into KPI OceanConnect. The move strengthens the company’s global footprint, aligns regional teams more closely and enhances its ability to deliver consistent service, and greater value to customers worldwide.

“By integrating Baseblue, investing in our people and expanding both our advisory and digital capabilities, we have further enhanced our ability to help customers navigate market volatility, regulatory change and the practical realities of the energy transition. The results for the year reflect the strength of our partnerships, the dedication of our teams and the trust our customers place in us every day,” said Dorthe Bendtsen, CEO of KPI OceanConnect.

In response to geopolitical and regulatory challenges over the past year, including the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, KPI OceanConnect continued to invest in the expertise, technology and capabilities required to support customers in developing fuel and compliance strategies aligned with their commercial and operational objectives.

Through its Alternative Fuels & Carbon Markets team, the company expanded support for customers seeking guidance on biofuels, LNG, methanol, carbon compliance and FuelEU Maritime strategies. KPI OceanConnect also saw growing demand for EU Allowance (EUA) trading and FuelEU Pooling solutions, trading more than two million EUAs during the year and helping 250 shipowners and operators identify practical and commercially viable pathways to compliance.

The company continued to leverage the strength of the Bunker Holding Group’s global supply network, which today provides access to biofuel solutions in more than 250 ports worldwide. This extensive infrastructure enables customers to access lower-carbon fuel options where and when they need them, supporting both compliance and commercial objectives while helping prepare for the evolving regulatory landscape.

“The industry is operating in a period where energy, regulatory and geopolitical risks are increasingly interconnected,” said Dorthe Bendtsen.

“Our role is to help customers navigate these complexities by providing market insight, compliance expertise and access to a broad range of fuel and risk management solutions.”

Photo credit: KPI OceanConnect
Published: 10 July, 2026

Ammonia

Peninsula and ITOCHU establish ammonia bunkering joint venture for European ports

I&P Marine Ammonia has been created to promote the supply of ammonia as a next-generation zero carbon bunker fuel, with an initial focus on major strategic European and Mediterranean hubs.

Published

2 days ago

July 9, 2026

Admin

Peninsula and ITOCHU establish ammonia bunkering joint venture for European ports

Global marine energy supplier Peninsula on Wednesday (8 July) announced the establishment of I&P Marine Ammonia Ltd. (IPMA), a joint venture with ITOCHU Corporation, to accelerate the development of ammonia marine fuel bunkering across key European ports.

IPMA has been created to promote the supply of ammonia as a next-generation zero carbon marine fuel, with an initial focus on major strategic European and Mediterranean hubs. These locations represent critical regions in global maritime logistics and will play a central role in enabling the adoption of alternative fuels at scale.

The formation of IPMA builds directly on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Peninsula and ITOCHU in September 2023, which established a framework for the joint development of ammonia bunkering infrastructure and supply chains.

Manifold Times previously reported the European Commission (EC) approving the creation of a joint venture by ITOCHU and Peninsula under the EU Merger Regulation.

“Ammonia is widely seen as the most reasonable option among zero‑carbon marine fuel alternatives, supporting the shipping industry’s transition in line with increasingly stringent regulatory and environmental requirements,” Peninsula said.

“The creation of IPMA marks a significant step towards the commercialisation of ammonia as a marine fuel.”

Peninsula has been advancing the alternative fuels landscape, with established capabilities across LNG, Bio LNG, biofuels and other alternative solutions such as methanol and ammonia. This joint venture represents a natural progression of the company’s strategy to provide customers with practical, scalable decarbonisation pathways.

The partnership combines Peninsula’s global bunkering expertise, an established global supply network and deep customer relationships covering over 500 ports across all major bunkering hubs with ITOCHU’s integrated approach, spanning fuel production and supply chain development.

“Together, Itochu and Peninsula will combine these strengths to develop a robust ammonia bunkering framework, pairing upstream supply and infrastructure with the customer-facing expertise required to deliver ammonia as bunker fuel reliably at scale,” the company added.

With an initial focus on Europe, IPMA is well positioned to accelerate the emergence of an operational ammonia marine fuel supply chain, complementing and reinforcing the broader industry initiatives already underway across the region.

Photo credit: Peninsula
Published: 9 July, 2026