Methanol

LR report sees surge in methanol engine retrofits in 2023, calls it a ‘defining trend’

More than 100 retrofitted vessels are due to join only methanol conversion currently in operation, “Stena Germanica”, which converted in 2015; ammonia engine technology moved closer to maturity in 2023.

Published

3 years ago

January 12, 2024

Admin

One of the defining trends of the year was the surge in methanol engine retrofits, according to classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) on Thursday (11 January) on its analysis of vessel ordering, technology and fuel developments.

More than 100 retrofitted vessels are due to join the only methanol conversion currently in operation, Stena Germanica, which converted in 2015. Alternative fuel conversions were explored in detail in LR’s Engine Retrofit Report, which identified a significant gap in potential demand for retrofits and the current capability and capacity of yards to handle them.

With the combination of global emissions reduction targets, carbon pricing and performance measures now in place, the dynamics of ship ordering, LR said technology development and fuel supply are shifting rapidly.

With just 27 methanol-capable vessels currently in service, 143 new construction orders were placed in 2023, which including previous orders will take the methanol-capable fleet to 227, according to data from Clarksons.

Ammonia engine technology moved closer to maturity in 2023, with the commercial launch of Wärtsilä’s first ammonia four-stroke engine, the first full-scale two-stroke engine tests by MAN Energy Solutions and the first approval-in-principle for an ammonia two-stroke engine, granted to WinGD’s X-DF-A engine concept by LR. A key signal of the urgency of shipping’s decarbonisation agenda and the potential of ammonia as a carbon-free energy carrier is the fact that four firm orders have already been placed for ammonia-fuelled vessels, all in 2023 and two classed by LR, with several more orders under discussion or publicly reported.

Orders for vessels powered by fossil-based alternative fuels, which will need to be replaced by synthetic or biomass-derived equivalents to allow zero- or near-zero emissions, also continued to surge in 2023. Orders to the end of the year will increase the LNG-fuelled fleet by 90% to 1,938 vessels and the LPG-fuelled fleet by 78% to 189 vessels. Overall, ordering of alternative fuelled vessels reached its highest volume ever in 2023. Combined with emerging demand for alternative fuel conversions, those orders are an early positive indicator that the global fleet could be technically capable of meeting IMO’s 5-10% target for zero- or near-zero carbon fuel use by 2030.

Onboard carbon capture is also increasing in maturity, with 16 retrofits contracted for in 2023 taking the total orders to 22 vessels on top of an existing fleet of 31. The greater activity reflects the evolving marinisation of the technology, with LR issuing Approvals in Principle to Rotoboost and Erma First last year. Eleven of the retrofits booked in 2023 are for vessels a decade or older, indicating that owners are using carbon capture as a solution to see ageing vessels through their life, complying with regulations for the next decade or so without the need for fuel conversion.

Alternative fuel readiness

Realisation of the IMO’s 2030 target will depend on fuel availability as well as shipboard technology. The Zero Carbon Fuel Monitor from LR’s Maritime Decarbonisation Hub has tracked the technology, investment and community readiness of key candidate zero and near-zero emissions fuels across the supply chain since 2018.

Its latest update in October 2023 – as well as the recent ‘Future of Marine Fuels’ report – show that despite concrete developments in fuel supply over 2023, including the first orders for ammonia bunkering barges and large-scale green methanol supply contracts, supply needs to be scaled up significantly for many fuel candidates.

Among the general themes behind rising readiness levels is a significant scale-up of renewable energy harvesting, driving increased investment readiness of green fuels resources. Additionally, there has been a notable rise in the number of national hydrogen strategies and establishment of production facilities. The increasing acceptance and deployment of carbon capture, utilisation and storage has also contributed to greater viability of ‘blue’ fuels that offer an alternative to fuels produced entirely by using renewable electricity.

Photo credit: Chris Pagan on Unsplash
Published: 12 January, 2024

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Bunker Fuel

Antwerp-Bruges biofuel bunker sales drops 36% on year in Q2 2026, LNG down 13.4%

Biofuel recorded 26,833 mt in Q2 2026 with 41,939 mt recorded in the same period the year before while port data showed 76,513 mt of LNG being delivered in Q2 2026, down from 88,328 mt.

Published

7 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Admin

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges recently published bunker fuel sales data for the second quarter (Q2) of 2026.

Total bunker sales at the port was 2.05 million metric tonnes (mt) in Q2 2026, compared to sales of 1.99 million mt (+3%) during the similar period in 2025.

Deliveries of ultra low sulphur fuel oil, very low sulphur fuel oil, high sulphur fuel oil and marine gas oil in Q2 2026 (against on year) recorded respectively 164,987 mt (+43.6% from 114,917 mt), 537,926 mt (+12.8% from 476,746 mt), 659,182 mt (+11.6% from 590,544 mt) and 366,329 (-15.7% from 434,766 mt).

Biofuel recorded 26,833 mt in Q2 2026 with 41,939 mt (-36%) recorded in the same period the year before.

Port data showed 76,513 mt of liquefied natural gas (LNG) being delivered as a marine fuel in Q2 2026, down by 13.4% from 88,328 mt in Q2 2025. Meanwhile, there has been no deliveries of methanol at the port for the year so far.

Photo credit: Port of Antwerp-Bruges
Published: 23 July, 2026

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”.

Published

1 day ago

July 22, 2026

Admin

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

Methanol

Western Baltic Engineering unveils green methanol bunkering vessel design for Klaipėda

Designed for flexible operations in shallow waters and local bunkering routes, the concept features an 800-metric-tonne green methanol capacity and the potential to supply up to 250,000 mt annually.

Published

3 days ago

July 20, 2026

Admin

Western Baltic Engineering unveils green methanol bunkering vessel design for Klaipėda

Ship design and engineering service provider Western Baltic Engineering on Thursday (16 July) showcased its latest concept design for a green methanol bunkering vessel, developed for the operational needs of the Port of Klaipėda.

Designed for flexible operations in shallow waters and local bunkering routes, the concept features an 800-metric-tonne green methanol capacity and the potential to supply up to 250,000 metric tonnes (mt) annually.

“It is Western Baltic Engineering’s first concept dedicated exclusively to green methanol bunkering, expanding our portfolio of alternative-fuel vessel solutions,” the company said in a social media post.

“Building on our experience in methanol-ready vessel design, it reflects our continued focus on enabling the industry’s transition to cleaner fuels.”

“As the maritime sector evolves, engineering companies have a responsibility not only to respond to market needs but also to anticipate future challenges,” said Marius Arkusauskas, Director at Western Baltic Engineering.

“By exploring emerging technologies and alternative fuel applications, we help our partners prepare for the next generation of maritime operations while contributing to a more sustainable future.”

Photo credit: Western Baltic Engineering
Published: 20 July, 2026