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Alternative Fuels

Argus Media: EU biofuel sector calls for measures on Chinese exports

There are concerns among European market participants about the mislabelling of Chinese exports as ‘advanced biofuels’, which led ISCC to carry integrity audits at processing units in China and Singapore.
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European waste-based and advanced biofuels association Ewaba is calling on the EU to introduce “bold measures” on products certification, as stronger Chinese biodiesel exports weigh on markets in the bloc, forcing some facilities to stop or cut output.

1 June 2023

In a letter to European Commission climate commissioner Frans Timmermans, Ewaba said that market practices in some exporting countries, China in particular, are challenging EU policies and certification practices, but declined to comment on possible EU trade measures, including anti-circumvention and anti-dumping procedures against Chinese and other imports.

The association said that 11 plants run by its members have already ceased output and a further 10 are operating below normal levels and are considering short-term stoppages.

There has been some concern among European market participants about the mislabelling of Chinese exports as ‘advanced biofuels’, which have led the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) to carry integrity audits at processing units in China and Singapore.

Ewaba today proposed a series of measures to address the issue at a policy level. These include the discontinuation of double counting waste-based and advanced biodiesel for product originating in third countries where audits cannot be conducted by member state authorities and/or integrity audits cannot be conducted by EU voluntary certification schemes.

It also wants to see retrospective measures to be taken on domestic sales following the withdrawal of voluntary scheme certification from for third country exporters. Ewaba also proposes that renewable fuel tickets — such as HBEs in the Netherlands, which are predominantly generated via the blending of biofuels into fossil fuels — should be withdrawn “regardless of any onward sales of those certificates” if these are subsequently found to have been earned fraudulently.

China’s biodiesel exports fell by 17pc to 178,000t in April from 215,000t in March, but were still considerably higher compared with the same month a year earlier. Chinese biodiesel exports in January-February more than doubled on the year to 455,000t. This was supported by a short-term price rebound in Europe at the end of December and first half of January this year.

Total Chinese exports of biodiesel in the first four months of 2023 hit 848,198t — predominantly destined for the EU — compared with 478,123t in the same period of 2022.

By Dafydd ab Iago

 

Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 6 June, 2023 

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LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

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PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. 

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post. 

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024. 

 

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure.
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July 21, 2026

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CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) recently signed a contract with Sinopec (Beijing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd. to build a 12,000-cubic metre (m3) LNG bunkering vessel, according to Chinese maritime media.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028 and will support Sinopec’s efforts to expand its presence in the marine clean energy sector.

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s LNG bunkering infrastructure.

With this signing , CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering’s LNG bunkering vessel orderbook is further strengthened, maintaining its leading position in the global market for small and medium-sized LNG bunkering vessels.

The contract also marked another milestone for CIMC SOE, which has seen a sharp increase in orders and business performance this year amid a surge in domestic LNG vessel demand.

 

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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Nuclear

ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

KRISO says AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.
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ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO) on Thursday (16 July) received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its concept design of a 15,000 TEU Small Modular Reactor (SMR)-powered container ship utilising Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) technology.

KRISO said the AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.

“This achievement demonstrates international recognition of KRISO’s technological capabilities in the rapidly evolving field of nuclear-powered shipping, supporting the transition toward low-carbon maritime transport,” it said. 

Building on this milestone, KRISO will continue advancing basic and detailed ship design, paving the way for future demonstration and commercialisation of SMR-powered vessels. 

Through continued R&D and international collaboration, KRISO remains committed to strengthening next-generation maritime technologies and contributing to the safe deployment of nuclear propulsion in the maritime industry.

 

Photo credit: Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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