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Alternative Fuels

NorthStandard: Risk assessments required for alternative fuel bunkering in US

Policy requires vessel owners and operators to work with the fuel supplier who will submit a bunkering proposal and a risk assessment plan for review by the Captain of the Port.

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Global marine insurer NorthStandard on Wednesday (13 August) shared on the new guidelines, issued by the United States Coast Guard (USCG), for bunkering of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other alternative marine fuels:

On July 24, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard issued Policy Letter No. 01-25, establishing a uniform, risk-based safety framework for all bunkering operations in US waters involving LNG and alternative marine fuels, such as: methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, and LPG. This policy replaces earlier LNG-specific guidance from Policy Letters 01-15 and 02-15.

The policy requires vessel owners and operators to work with the fuel supplier who will submit a bunkering proposal and a risk assessment plan for review by the Captain of the Port (COTP) prior to any bunkering activity. This must be submitted in adequate time for review before the operation. The plan must include:

  • Information of the fuel to be delivered
  • Anticipated date ranges
  • Location and facilities
  • Details of the companies involved
  • Technical details of the vessels
  • Proposed participants in the risk assessment process
  • Risk assessment methodologies to be used (recommending ISO/IEC 31010)
  • Qualifications and training of personnel directly involved in the operation
  • Operational assumptions and any pre-identified hazards
  • Hazards associated with:
  1. Mooring, docking, or anchoring
  2. Connection and testing (including compatibility assessment)
  3. Fuel transfer operations (including pressure management and vapor return)
  4. Completion and disconnection
  5. Protection of critical infrastructure, waterways, personnel, and the environment
  6. Port emergency response capability
  7. Simultaneous operations (SIMOPS)

The COTP has enforcement authority to issue orders halting operations if the assessment is not submitted in time or if operations deviate from the approved plan.

Whilst the guidelines specifically mention it is the fuel suppliers responsibility to submit the documents, the specifics required in the plans require collaboration from the operators and owners.

The USCG advises there is no specific template required for submission. We suggest providing the information in the attached checklist to the fuel supplier during bunkering procurement to help prevent any delays in the bunkering process. Please note that this is a general guide only and should be adapted according to the vessel, fuel type, and port requirements.

Note: Download the checklist here.

Related: US Coast Guard issues new guidelines for alternative fuels bunkering operations

 

Photo credit: william william on Unsplash
Published: 14 August, 2025

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Alternative Fuels

Peninsula supplies bio-LNG bunker fuel to Royal Caribbean cruise ship

Company has successfully completed the delivery of bio-LNG to Royal Caribbean Group’s newest Icon-class cruise ship, “Legend of the Seas”, in Cádiz, Spain.

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Peninsula completes delivery of bioLNG bunker fuel to Royal Caribbean cruise ship

Marine fuel supplier Peninsula on Monday (13 July) said it has successfully completed the delivery of bio-LNG to Royal Caribbean Group’s newest Icon-class cruise ship, Legend of the Seas, in Cádiz, Spain.

This marked Peninsula’s first bioLNG distribution in the Port of Cádiz. The milestone was met with amplified significance as the company has now supplied all three Icon-class vessels, further strengthening its long-standing relationship with Royal Caribbean Group.

Nacho de Miguel, Head of Alternative Fuels and Sustainability at Peninsula, said: “This supply highlights the strength of our planning, coordination and execution at scale. As cruise operators introduce increasingly advanced vessels, our focus remains on delivering safe, reliable and efficient fuel supply, aligned with evolving operational and environmental demands.”

The delivery was carried out through coordination with all stakeholders, including the Port of Cadiz and Royal Caribbean Group. 

 

Photo credit: Peninsula
Published: 14 July, 2026

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Alternative Fuels

ENGINE: Fuel Switch Snapshot: Pooling values drop for EU-EU voyages

Potential pooling values for B100 and LBM decline; B100 premium over LNG shrinks to $1/mt for diesel SS engines; Singapore LNG cheaper than LSMGO, B100 for Otto MS engines.

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ENGINE: Fuel Switch Snapshot: Pooling values drop for EU-EU voyages

Once a week, bunker intelligence platform ENGINE will publish a snapshot of alternative and conventional bunker fuel prices in the world’s two biggest bunkering hubs. The following is the latest snapshot:

13 July 2026

  • Potential pooling values for B100 and LBM decline
  • B100 premium over LNG shrinks to $1/mt for diesel SS engines
  • Singapore LNG cheaper than LSMGO, B100 for Otto MS engines

ENGINE-assessed FuelEU Maritime pooling values for B100 and liquefied biomethane (LBM) on EU-EU voyages have fallen by $29/mt and $41-47/mt, respectively, over the past week.

OceanScore’s FuelEU Pooling Index has fallen by around €10/mtCO2e to €165/mtCO2e ($189/mtCO2e), weighing on the pooling benefits of B100 and LBM on voyages between EU ports.

B100’s discount to LNG consumed in Otto medium-speed (MS) engines has widened by $49/mt to $187/mt over the week.

In contrast, B100 still remains at a premium to LNG consumed in diesel slow-speed (SS) engines in Rotterdam, but that premium has narrowed sharply to just $1/mt from $58/mt the previous week.

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LBM discounts to LSMGO in Rotterdam have narrowed by $23-31/mt to $592-787/mt over the week. Its discounts to VLSFO have narrowed even further, falling by $70-78/mt to $253-448/mt.

For dual-fuel vessels with Otto MS engines bunkering in Singapore, LNG has flipped from a $10/mt premium to a $26/mt discount against LSMGO over the week. Against B100, it has shifted from a $17/mt premium to a $22/mt discount.

It should be noted that B100 and methane largely serve different vessel segments with distinct operational requirements and fuel needs, and do not necessarily compete directly with one another.

Liquid fuels

HSFO and VLSFO prices in Rotterdam have risen by $27-31/mt, while the port’s LSMGO benchmark has climbed by a steeper $79/mt over the past week. Rotterdam’s B100 price has also gained $24/mt.

B100’s discounts to VLSFO and LSMGO have widened by $7/mt and $55/mt, respectively.

Singapore’s conventional bunker fuel benchmarks have climbed by $12-70/mt over the week. The port’s B100 price has surged by $73/mt, pushing its premium over VLSFO up by $61/mt to $242/mt.

B100 has remained at a discount to LSMGO in Singapore, although that discount has narrowed to around $4/mt from $7/mt the week before.

Liquid gases

Rotterdam’s LNG prices have surged by $74-81/mt over the past week, while LBM prices have risen even more sharply by $102-109/mt.

LBM discounts to LNG have narrowed by $28/mt to $419-426/mt.

Singapore’s LNG prices have gained $34-38/mt over the same period, and the fuel is now priced at $26-120/mt discounts to LSMGO, depending on the engine type.

By Konica Bhatt

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 14 July, 2026

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Methanol

Venture Energy facilitates largest single green methanol bunkering op in Hong Kong

The Wah Kwong subsidiary recently facilitated the supply of 1,000 mt of green methanol by the bunkering barge “Da Qing 268” to RoRo vessel “CM Shenzhen”, belonging to CM RoRo, with Sinopec HK.

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Venture Energy facilitates largest single green methanol bunkering op in Hong Kong

Hong Kong shipowner Wah Kwong Maritime Transport’s subsidiary, Venture Energy Limited (Venture Energy), on Friday (10 July) said it recently facilitated the largest single green methanol bunkering operation conducted in Hong Kong to date. 

Bunkering barge Da Qing 268 supplied 1,000 metric tonnes (mt) of green methanol to RoRo vessel CM Shenzhen belonging to China Merchants Guangzhou RoRo Shipping Co., Ltd. (CM RoRo), with Sinopec (Hong Kong) Limited (Sinopec HK). 

The operation utilised green methanol from Shanghai Shenji Energy & Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. (Shenji Energy), a subsidiary of Shenergy Group and Venture Energy Limited (Venture Energy) arranged the delivery.

“This milestone highlights Venture Energy’s supply capabilities to bridge growing demand in the Greater Bay Area with diversified supply sources across North and East China, contributing to the development of a reliable and scalable green marine fuel supply chain for the region,” the company said. 

Through close collaboration with Sinopec HK and other industry partners, Venture Energy helped ensure the safe and efficient delivery of green methanol to Hong Kong’s bunkering market.

The successful operation further strengthens Hong Kong’s position as an international maritime centre and an emerging green fuel bunkering hub. It also demonstrates the Greater Bay Area’s potential to establish a competitive, integrated and sustainable marine fuel ecosystem covering production, logistics, storage, bunkering and end-use applications.

Venture Energy will continue to collaborate with strategic partners across the green fuel value chain to support future bunkering operations and contribute to the development of low-carbon maritime Solutions.

 

Photo credit: Venture Energy
Published: 13 July, 2026

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