Shanghai Port has surpassed 2 million cubic metres (m³) of cumulative LNG bunkering volume, with Pacific International Lines’ (PIL) Kota Eagle participating in the milestone operation, the Singapore-based container operator said on Monday (3 August). 

The company said the achievement was reached on 25 July when PIL’s Kota Eagle vessel received 4,549 m3 of LNG marine fuel from SIPG Energy’s LNG bunkering vessel at the Lvhuashan Anchorage off the coast of Shanghai, China.

“As part of our commitment to decarbonisation, PIL is modernising our fleet by investing in LNG dual-fuel vessels,” it said.

“Delivered in 2024, Kota Eagle is PIL’s first LNG dual-fuel container vessel, and it also completed its maiden LNG bunkering operation at Shanghai’s Yangshan Port. To date, we have taken delivery of nine LNG dual-fuel newbuild vessels.” 

PIL added that the landmark achievement by Shanghai Port reflects its rapidly growing bunkering capabilities, which provide the critical support needed for the efficient operation of our expanding fleet of greener vessels. 

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 3 August, 2026

Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI) on Wednesday (29 July) said two 65,000 dwt methanol dual-fuel bulk carriers, LEM AZALEA and LEM PLUMERIA, were named on 27 July at Guangzhou’s Nansha district.

The vessels were designed by the SDARI, part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), for Cyprus-based Lemissoler Navigation and built by CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding.

According to SDARI, the vessels are the institute’s first methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier design and China’s first domestically developed Ultramax methanol dual-fuel bulk carriers.

The bulk carriers are equipped with a methanol dual-fuel propulsion system comprising a conventional fuel tank and two dedicated high-capacity methanol fuel tanks, allowing operators to switch flexibly between fuels while meeting current and anticipated IMO requirements on carbon reduction and sulphur emissions.

The vessels are also fitted with an auxiliary lithium battery system to supply onboard lighting power, reducing overall energy consumption.

Compared with conventionally fuelled bulk carriers, the methanol dual-fuel design is expected to significantly reduce carbon dioxide, sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions.

SDARI said the project fills a gap in China’s domestically developed methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier segment in the 65,000 dwt class and provides a mature and scalable design that can be replicated for future vessels.

Photo credit: CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding
Published: 3 August, 2026

Transport & Environment (T&E) on Thursday (30 July) said its updated e-fuels tracker showed that Europe is home to 69 e-fuel projects that could serve the maritime sector but only six are operational. 

This highlights the difficulty Europe is having in getting big projects off the ground. Effective financial support combined with clean fuel targets at the EU level would ensure the EU remains competitive in this strategic new market, said T&E.

The introduction of an e-fuel target for shipping in the EU in 2023 – FuelEU Maritime – has been followed by the conception of a number of projects across Europe. Spain leads the way, followed by Denmark, Finland and France. If all projects were to become operational, they could produce up to 4.09 Mtoe of e-fuels by 2033 – 14% of European shipping’s fuel needs. 

“While progress is slow, things could be moving in the right direction with the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley project reaching FID in February with a projected production of 474,000 toe/year of e-ammonia and e-methanol,” it said. 

T&E found three operational projects in China, but these are producing 10 times what the operational plants in Europe are producing. This ability to scale more quickly could see Europe lose ground. Chinese production without competition from Europe risks flooding the European market. Europe must invest in local e-fuels production to ensure it stays ahead, said T&E.

Constance Dijkstra, maritime policy manager at T&E, said: “While Europe hesitates, China is actually getting e-fuels off the ground. If Europe wants to be a leading e-fuels producer, it needs to bridge the price gap between EU-made e-fuels and fossil fuels, and get shipping companies to start using those fuels instead of defaulting to imported LNG or biofuels.”

Photo credit: Transport & Environment
Published: 3 August, 2026