Baltic Workboats recently said a new 38-metre multi-purpose workboat, KRATT, built for the Estonian State Fleet, has been christened at its Nasva shipyard in Saaremaa on 12 August. 

KRATT is Estonia’s first large workboat to use biomethane as its primary fuel and is also equipped with a 400 kWh battery bank for electric propulsion. 

On biomethane, the vessel can travel up to 1,000 nautical miles at a speed of seven knots. On battery power, it can operate for up to two hours at five knots. The battery bank also allows the vessel to use electric power for up to ten hours while at anchor, reducing the need to run auxiliary engines as well as fuel consumption, emissions and noise levels.

From autumn, the vessel will carry out a wide range of maritime tasks in Estonian waters, from buoy handling and fairway maintenance to marine research, pollution response and rescue operations.

According to Andres Laasma, Director General of the Estonian State Fleet, the gradual renewal of the state-owned fleet is essential to ensure the country’s ability to carry out its maritime duties.

“Our main workboats today are on average 30-40 years old, and maintaining their reliability is becoming more difficult and costly year by year. The new workboat KRATT will help ease this situation, as it is a multi-purpose vessel capable of performing a wide range of tasks,” Laasma said.

KRATT is the first major workboat ordered by the state in the past ten years.

Photo credit: Baltic Workboats
Published: 19 August, 2026

The Marine Energy Transition Forum (METF) 2026 will bring together leading voices from across the global maritime sector on 11 November 2026 at Norton Rose Fulbright, London.

The forum will tackle one of shipping’s most pressing challenges: how to overcome the fuel, technology and infrastructure barriers that continue to slow the industry’s transition to net-zero emissions.

Under the theme “Reframing the maritime decarbonisation roadmap: addressing fuel, technology and infrastructure bottlenecks,” the one-day forum will provide a platform for shipowners, fuel suppliers, technology developers, ports, policymakers and financiers to examine the practical steps needed to accelerate progress while maintaining commercial competitiveness.

As the maritime industry navigates an increasingly complex regulatory and commercial landscape, METF 2026 will focus on delivering practical insight into the challenges—and opportunities—shaping the next phase of the energy transition.

The conference programme will explore five key themes:

• The effectiveness of current regulatory frameworks and policy measures, including regional and international initiatives driving maritime decarbonisation.
• Progress in developing a resilient multi-fuel future, examining investment, fuel availability, supply chains and infrastructure.
• The commercial readiness of emerging technologies, including alternative propulsion systems, vessel optimisation, batteries, carbon capture, wind propulsion and digital solutions.
• Building a supportive business environment for energy transition companies, with discussions covering finance, innovation, scaling businesses and market development.
• The evolving role of ports as critical enablers of shipping’s energy transition through new fuel infrastructure, shore power and energy cluster development.

METF 2026 is designed to encourage open discussion between every part of the maritime value chain, recognising that collaboration across fuel producers, shipowners, ports, technology providers, investors and policymakers will be essential if global decarbonisation ambitions are to be achieved.

The event will feature expert speakers, panel discussions and extensive networking opportunities, enabling delegates to exchange ideas, develop partnerships and gain practical insight into the strategies shaping the future of maritime energy.

Registration for METF 2026 is now open. Further information and registration can be found here. 

Photo credit: ship.energy
Published: 13 August, 2026

The UK Chamber of Shipping on Monday (3 August) published Alternative Fuels: Building the Safety Evidence Base, a report bringing together industry expertise to identify and assess the safety considerations associated with the fuels expected to power shipping’s transition to net zero.

Developed through the Chamber’s Safety of Alternative Fuels Working Group (SAFWG), the publication provides preliminary, high-level risk assessments covering five key fuel pathways: Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), biofuels, methanol, hydrogen and ammonia. 

Francesco Sandrelli, Policy Director (Environment) at the UK Chamber of Shipping, said: “Shipping is on a critical pathway to net zero. New fuels and energy sources are moving from pilot projects to commercial reality, but safety, standards and operational readiness must keep pace.

“There is no single fuel that will decarbonise shipping. Different vessel types, trades and operating environments will require different solutions. What is essential is that the transition takes place safely. This publication is an important step towards achieving that goal.”

Among the report’s key findings is the need for robust design and process safety frameworks to support the commercial deployment of alternative fuels. The research also highlights a number of cross-cutting themes, including material compatibility, emergency response preparedness, crew training and competence, and the need for clearer regulatory pathways. 

The report represents a major collaborative effort by industry to build a shared understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with alternative marine fuels. It provides practical insights into the known risks, highlights where further work is needed, and creates a foundation for future research, regulation and operational learning. 

The SAFWG was established by the UK Chamber of Shipping to support industry understanding of the safety implications associated with emerging zero and near-zero emission fuels. 

The report is the culmination of the Working Group’s first year of activity, during which more than 200 participants from over 50 organisations collaborated through a series of technical workshops delivered by Policy Director Francesco Sandrelli, supported by Robert Merrylees and Paul Markides. 

The publication forms part of the UK Chamber’s wider work to support shipping’s transition to net zero while maintaining the highest standards of safety and operational excellence. 

Future work by the SAFWG will focus on identifying regulatory and knowledge gaps, developing project-specific case studies, expanding stakeholder engagement and establishing an incident and lessons-learned database. 

Note: The report, Alternative Fuels: Building the Safety Evidence Base, can be found here. 

Photo credit: Chris Pagan on Unsplash
Published: 4 August, 2026