Alternative Fuels

Argus Media: Korea unveils roadmap for net zero in shipping by 2050

Third area of focus under the roadmap is for South Korea to develop eco-friendly technology and expand infrastructure for future bunker fuels, according to Tng Yong Li.

Published

2 years ago

February 23, 2023

Admin

South Korea’s maritime ministry (Mof) has announced its strategy to decarbonise the shipping sector by 2050, with a focus on hastening the transition to what it terms as “eco-friendly” vessels.

The roadmap is a pre-emptive response to stricter decarbonisation regulations by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the international community, including Europe, Mof said on 14 February.

Mof expects the IMO in July to raise its international maritime carbon emission reduction target from 50pc to 100pc by 2050, in addition to more economic regulatory measures such as a carbon levy system. The 80th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee will be held over 3-7 July, and is expected to adopt the revised IMO Strategy for Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships, according to the IMO.

Mof sees “significant ripple effects” stemming from the tighter regulations on the shipping industry, since charging a certain amount for each tonne of carbon emitted will directly raise transportation costs for shipping firms. This will consequently make it “inevitable” for firms to switch to carbon-neutral fuels in order to stay competitive.

The Mof has consequently laid out its four-point strategy to achieve carbon neutrality in the shipping sector by 2050, in what it describes as a first in Asia.

Going green with support

The country will first convert ships owned by national shipping companies into ships that use eco-friendly fuels.

The roadmap has earmarked 867 outward-bound domestic vessels weighing 5,000 gross tonnes or more, which are subject to international regulations such as those set by the IMO, for conversion to eco-friendly ships. South Korea also aims to convert 118 eco-friendly ships by 2030, including the preferential conversion of 60pc of its liner service in Europe and the Americas, in response to the EU’s regional regulations and introduction of its own carbon levy system.

South Korea aims to eventually replace all outward-bound domestic vessels with 100pc eco-friendly ships by 2050.

When building new ships, South Korea is planning to have dual-fuel engines that can utilise eco-friendly fuels such as e-methanol and LNG by 2030, and also aims to promote ammonia and hydrogen vessels.

These goals are in line with the previous “2030 Green Ship-K Promotion Strategy” that South Korea outlined in December 2020. The 2030 plan aimed to convert 15pc of South Korean-flagged ships, or 528 vessels out of 3,542, into greener ones. The government and public corporations are also required to build green vessels when replacing their old vessels.

Upon the successful implementation of the 2030 strategy, Mof forecasts that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2050 will be at 5.93mn t or half of the 11.81mn t in 2017. In the nearer term, Mof sees its strategy reducing particulate matter by 3,314t and GHG emissions by 4mn t by around 2030.

Secondly, the government will also provide support to encourage timely investment in the transition to eco-friendly fleets. The cost increase for domestic shipping lines is estimated at about 1.8 trillion South Korean won ($1.38bn) by 2030, as construction expenses rise because of the installation of expensive engines and fuel tanks for conversion to eco-friendly fuel ships.

This is up by about 31pc compared to the cost of constructing conventional ships. Support from the government, public institutions, and the financial sector will be expanded so shipping firms “do not hesitate” to invest in building or converting eco-friendly ships, Mof said.

Public funds worth up to W4.5 trillion will be raised to provide loans through the financial sector, in addition to interest rate cuts for loans when building and operating eco-friendly ships. Measures to stimulate private ship investment will be prepared by the end of this year, such as issuing green bonds to support financing for shipbuilding.

A new fund worth up to W1 trillion will also be established to support eco-friendly vessel conversion in small- and medium-sized shipping companies.

Making way for future fuels

The third area of focus under the roadmap is for South Korea to develop eco-friendly technology and expand infrastructure for future fuels.

South Korea’s trade and industry ministry (Motie) and Mof will jointly promote the development of technologies for eco-friendly vessels in a project over 2022-31, with an investment of W254bn. The two ministries will also study integrated biofuel technology over 2023-24 to secure future fuel production technologies for ships, and will also consider the expansion of floating carbon-free fuel infrastructure.

The country will also expand port facilities to prepare for fuels such as e-methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen. Legislation through the entire supply chain from production to storage to the sale and supply of bunker fuel will also be reviewed and improved.

Lastly, South Korea will establish carbon-free shipping routes and foster international co-operation. The country and the US launched a feasibility study in January to build a green shipping corridor between South Korea’s Busan and the US, according to Mof. Domestic shipowner Hyundai Merchant Marine recently ordered nine methanol-fuelled vessels, with potential plans to use the aforementioned shipping corridor.

Public and private sector investment in eco-friendly shipbuilding is expected to hit W8 trillion by 2030 and W71 trillion by 2050, according to Mof.

South Korea expects this transition to be “a new national growth engine in the era of carbon neutrality”, generating an economic value of W17 trillion by 2030, and W158 trillion by 2050.

By Tng Yong Li

Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 23 February, 2023

Biofuel

Chimbusco and SPG complete first biofuel bunkering operation in Northern China

Chimbusco’s “DA YUAN YOU 8” tanker refuelled the “HMM VANCOUVER” with 1,300 metric tonnes of B24 biofuel at Qingdao Port.

Published

3 days ago

June 20, 2025

Admin

Chimbusco and SPG achieves first biofuel bunkering operation in Northern China

China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co Ltd (Chimbusco) and Shandong Port Group (SPG) recently said they successfully completed the first B24 biofuel bunkering operation in Northern China on 14 June.

Chimbusco’s “DA YUAN YOU 8 ” tanker refuelled the “HMM VANCOUVER” with 1,300 metric tonnes (mt) of B24 biofuel at Qingdao Port.

Chimbusco said the successful bunkering operation not only marks a milestone in the bonded biofuel bunkering business for international voyage vessels in northern China but also represents a critical milestone in the green and low-carbon transformation of the shipping industry around the Bohai Sea and throughout northern China.

B24 biofuel is a blend of 24% waste cooking oil and 76% high-sulphur fuel oil. Authoritatively certified, the company said this fuel can significantly reduce carbon emissions from vessel operations by up to 20%, providing shipowners with an efficient and convenient low-carbon solution to comply with increasingly stringent International Maritime Organization (IMO) emission reduction regulations.

Since the beginning of this year, Chimbusco said it has achieved top records of bunkering volumes in the green fuel sector. From the first successful operation at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in eastern China to subsequent bunkering operations in Shenzhen, Xiamen, and other major ports across the country, the company has further consolidated its regular supply capabilities.

During this in-depth cooperation with SPG’s Qingdao Port, Chimbusco’s “Green Energy Label” made its debut at the operation site.

“This further confirms that Chimbusco is deploying green fuel bunkering services to help Chinese ports accelerate the construction of a maritime green energy supply network,” the company said.

Photo credit: Shandong Port Group
Published: 20 June, 2025

Ammonia

Korea to develop global standards for discharge of toxic effluent from ammonia-fuelled ships

KR and major Korean shipyards such as HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, HD Hyundai Samho and Samsung Heavy Industries will be part of the group.

Published

3 days ago

June 20, 2025

Admin

Korea to develop global standards for discharge of toxic effluent from ammonia-fuelled ships

Classification society Korean Register (KR) said it has launched a joint working group to establish international standards for the safe discharge of toxic ammonia effluent generated from ammonia-fuelled ships.

Major Korean shipyards such as HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, HD Hyundai Samho, Samsung Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean, and the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR) will be part of the group.

KR said ammonia is attracting attention as an eco-friendly alternative fuel that does not emit carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, but due to its strong toxicity and concerns about marine pollution, it is essential to establish separate safety standards.

In particular, ammonia effluent generated from wet treatment systems currently has no clear treatment standards, which causes considerable technical and operational uncertainty in ship design and operation.

Accordingly, the group aims to establish international standards related to the storage, treatment, and discharge of ammonia wastewater generated from ships and to officially propose this to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) through the Korean government.

The launch of this consultative body is a follow-up measure to a proposal by KR and the Korean government to the IMO in 2024 for the need to establish safety standards for ammonia effluent, which was officially approved at the 83rd IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in April 2025. The group plans to propose a draft standard to the IMO in 2026 and lead international discussions.

Kim Tae-seong, Head of the KTR headquarters, said: “We will provide reliable scientific data to establish ammonia wastewater management guidelines and treatment standards. We will actively cooperate to secure the international competitiveness of the domestic shipbuilding and shipping industries.”
Kim Kyung-bok, Vice President of KR, said: “This consultative body is a symbolic case of our shipbuilding and shipping industries joining forces to lead the establishment of international safety standards based on our country’s advanced technologies.”

“KR will continue to support the development of alternative fuel safety standards and international standardisation efforts together with our government.”

Photo credit: Korean Register
Published: 20 June, 2025

Alternative Fuels

Fratelli Cosulich and IINO Lines to collaborate on alternative bunker fuels

Fratelli Cosulich Marine Energy and IINO Lines signed a MoU, setting a foundation for further collaboration in the areas of methanol, LNG, and ammonia bunkering.

Published

3 days ago

June 20, 2025

Admin

Fratelli Cosulich Marine Energy and IINO Lines on Thursday (19 June) announced a strategic cooperation that reinforces their shared commitment to the decarbonisation of the maritime industry.

The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore new business opportunities in the alternative marine fuels sector.

“This agreement marks a significant step in the long-standing relationship between the two companies and sets the foundation for further collaboration in the areas of methanol, LNG, and ammonia bunkering,” Fratelli Cosulich said.

Through the MoU, the parties will engage in joint initiatives, exchange market insights, and facilitate connections with potential suppliers and stakeholders in the alternative fuels space.

“We are proud to announce the partnership with Fratelli Cosulich for initiatives in alternative marine fuels. Both companies have extensive history in the shipping industry,” said Yusuke Otani, President of IINO Lines.

“The joint development will enable a holistic approach for building a supply chain of alternative marine fuels.”

“As we navigate the energy transition, partnerships like the one we announce today with IINO Lines are essential in shaping the future of sustainable shipping,” said Timothy Cosulich, CEO of Fratelli Cosulich Group.

“By combining our expertise and resources, we aim to drive the adoption of cleaner marine fuels and contribute to the decarbonization of global shipping.”

Photo credit: Scott Graham
Published: 20 June, 2025