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Bunker Holding among firms committed to support renewable hydrogen-derived marine fuels

Signatories of the Joint Commitment include Maersk, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Trafigura, WinGD, X-Press Feeders and MAN Energy Solutions.

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Thirty leaders in the shipping sectors – including cargo owners, ship operators, ports, bunkering companies, and equipment manufacturers – on Wednesday (6 December) signed a Joint Commitment, organised by the UN High Level Champions and RMI, at COP28 to enable the use of renewable hydrogen-derived shipping fuel this decade to meet maritime industry decarbonisation targets. 

Signatories of the Joint Commitment include Bunker Holding Group, Maersk, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines,  WinGD, X-Press Feeders, Trafigura and MAN Energy Solutions. 

The Commitment includes important targets for fuel use, fleet development, and port infrastructure needed to get the nascent green hydrogen industry to scale.  

To reach targets set out in the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s 2023 Strategy, adopted by 175 member states earlier this year, the average ship’s greenhouse gas intensity will need to be reduced by 86% by 2040. Achieving this requires large-scale and rapid growth in the use of zero or near zero-emission fuels, of which green hydrogen-derived fuels like ammonia and methanol will play a crucial role. Legally binding international regulations that enter into force in 2027 will require the use of low-emissions fuels. 

Ports and ports’ enablers have added their support for the Call to Action, committing to invest in infrastructure and safety projects to support re-fueling of ships with green hydrogen and its derivatives. 

Rasmus Bach Nielsen, Global Head of Fuel Decarbonisation for Trafigura, said: “We will only achieve the deep decarbonisation of shipping by switching to zero-emission fuels derived from renewable-based hydrogen.  As one of the world’s largest charterers of vessels, the commitments we are making alongside others should encourage investment by ports and port enablers serving shipping routes to invest in the necessary infrastructure. This in turn will help further incentivize the production of green hydrogen and hydrogen-derived fuels for use in shipping.” 

Keld R. Demant, CEO of Bunker Holding Group, said: “As the world’s largest bunker supplier, Bunker Holding Group fully supports the IMO GHG Strategy for decarbonising the shipping industry. We contribute by partnering with alternative fuel producers, and handle trades and logistics related to the last mile delivery. But to succeed, all industry stakeholders along the value chain need to stand together.” 

“To stimulate the demand and supply of zero or near-zero fuels, IMO should adopt pricing incentives as well as requirements for alternative fuels. Regulatory insurance is a prerequisite for the necessary investment in production, infrastructure, and new vessels.”  

Equipment manufacturers also joined as signatories, committing to support research and development efforts to further green hydrogen-based fuel deployment in the maritime sector. 

Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Energy Solutions, said: “Regardless of what other future-fuels eventually come into play, green hydrogen and green fuels derived from it will undoubtedly play a major role in all scenarios. At MAN Energy Solutions, we strongly believe that shipping is the ideal enabler for a hydrogen ramp-up, consuming as it does around 300 million tons of conventional fuels annually.”

 “Currently, our subsidiary – H-TEC SYSTEMS – is building a manufacturing facility for PEM electrolysis stacks for green hydrogen, which will add to the necessary scaling and market for zero-emission fuels. We are happy to add our voice to the growing alliance pushing for marine decarbonisation.” 

Takeshi Hashimoto, CEO at Mitsui O.S.K Lines, Ltd. (MOL), said: “For a general shipping company such as MOL, there is no single solution for vessel fuel. We will promote the adoption of optimum fuels including hydrogen, ammonia and any other potential green fuels for each business on the premise of achieving net zero in 2050 and our interim milestones.”

“In addition to working on the development and operation of vessels from the perspective of fuel users, we will work with diverse partners to urge upstream players of the fuel supply chain to join our efforts to expand the use of new fuels.”

As part of the Commitment, green hydrogen producers agreed to produce 11 million tons of the low-emissions fuel for use by the shipping sector by 2030. Longer term, a decarbonised global shipping sector will become one of the largest demand sources for green hydrogen, projected to account for approximately 15 percent of total demand by 2050.  

Alex Hewitt, CEO of CWP and chair of the Green Hydrogen Catapult, said: “In the mission to decarbonise shipping using green hydrogen and derivatives, global collaboration is key. This statement highlights the need for all participants across the value chain to collaborate deeply on both the supply and demand sides. We’re not building big green energy projects; we’re catalyzing change. It’s time for a determined step forward to foster projects that go well beyond current thinking on scale and get us straight onto the scale up fast track.”

To meet growing demand and enable decarbonised vessels, fuel supply and infrastructure must be present at ports on both sides of shipping routes, a fact that will require significant international coordination and investment.  

Sam Cho, Port of Seattle Commission President, said: “In the Pacific Northwest, we are actively working with our industry partners to catalyse development of a regional market for zero emissions fuels. We see green hydrogen as having significant potential to decarbonise maritime.”

“Green corridors focusing on cruise to Alaska and cargo with the Republic of Korea are already underway. A critical next step is to look beyond our own port, and to ensure that our strategies align with future planning and investment in fuel supply in our region and around the world.” 

Signatories called on governments to follow suit and support private sector collaboration with ambitious fuel standards and clean fuel mandates. To date, 41 governments have formulated national hydrogen strategies, many of which specifically address the shipping sector. Further action is needed to align and commit to well-to-wake emissions accounting, creating an enabling policy environment for verifiable low-emissions fuels. 

“In support of our collective actions we call on the IMO and member States to adopt a GHG pricing mechanism, a levy, as the most appropriate mechanism to achieve a just and equitable transition, among other measures. Collective action and cross sector cooperation is vital to make sure that shipping’s zero emission transition happens smoothly and quickly,” Nielsen at Trafigura said. 

Note: The Joint Commitment document can be viewed here.

Photo credit: Chris Pagan on Unsplash
Published: 7 December, 2023

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Biofuel

NYK conducts first Japan bio bunker fuel trial on coal carrier for domestic power utility firm

Firm said it has started a biofuel test run on Noshiro Maru, operated by Tohoku Electric Power, marking the first time in Japan that a coal carrier has been used to test biofuel for a domestic power utility firm.

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NYK conducts first Japan bio bunker fuel trial on coal carrier for domestic power utility firm

Japanese shipping firm NYK on Monday (10 February) said it has started a biofuel test run on its coal carrier Noshiro Maru, which is operated by Tohoku Electric Power on 9 February.

This is the first time in Japan that a coal carrier has been used to test biofuel for a domestic power utility company. Mitsubishi Corporation Energy in the Keihin area facilitated the supply of biofuel for the vessel.

Biofuels are made from organic resources (biomass) of biological origin, such as agricultural residues and waste cooking oil, and are considered to produce virtually zero carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions when combusted.

“Since they can be used in heavy-oil-powered ship engines, which are common on large merchant ships, biofuels are considered a key means of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transition period from heavy oil to zero-emission fuels,” NYK said. 

“Using biofuel to reduce GHG emissions during sea navigation also contributes to reducing Scope 3 GHG emissions generated by transporting customers’ cargo.”

NYK added it will continue to focus on introducing biofuels and other next-generation fuels, and will contribute to reducing GHG emissions in our customers' supply chains while promoting decarbonisation in marine transport.

 

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 11 February, 2025

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Biofuel

IBIA welcomes IMO move to draft guidance change on carriage of bio bunker fuels

IBIA welcomed agreement by IMO’s Sub Committee on PPR 12 to draft Interim Guidance on the carriage of blends of biofuels and MARPOL Annex I cargoes by conventional bunker ships.

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The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) on Monday (10 February) said it submitted a document to IMO on the carriage of biofuels for supply to a ship for use as fuel oil on board that ship in November 2023.

This highlighted that as conventional bunker vessels were limited in carrying fuel oil of no more than 25% biofuel it presented a potential impediment to the global adoption of biofuels as fuel oil for ships and so to the ambition for the decarbonization of international shipping in the short term, as set out in the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.

“IBIA therefore welcomes the agreement by IMO’s Sub Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 12) to draft Interim Guidance on the carriage of blends of biofuels and MARPOL Annex I cargoes by conventional bunker ships,” it said on its website. 

The guidance allows conventional bunker ships certified for carriage of oil fuels under MARPOL Annex I to transport blends of not more than 30% by volume of biofuel, as long as all residues or tank washings are discharged ashore, unless the oil discharge monitoring equipment (ODME) is approved for the biofuel blend(s) being shipped. 

“The Interim Guidance is expected to be approved by IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83) in April,” IBIA added. 

“IBIA’s membership represents stakeholders from across the global marine fuel value chain, and being able to draw on this technically strong and credible resource will, in its role of having consultative status to the IMO, mean that IBIA will continue to bring important matters to the attention of the wider IMO membership for due consideration.”

 

Photo credit: International Bunker Industry Association
Published: 11 February, 2025

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Alternative Fuels

Ammonia, methanol bunkering infrastructures among 39 projects to receive EU funding

Both projects aim to deploy a ship-to-ship bunkering system at the ports of Huelva and Algeciras respectively and include a 7500 m3 bunkering vessel each.

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Guillaume Périgois on Unsplash

Editor's Note [12 February 2025] : Article updated on CEPSA 

Two projects involving ammonia and methanol bunkering infrastructures in the ports of Huelva and Algeciras in Spain were among 39 projects to receive funding under the first cut-off deadline of 2024-2025 Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), according to the European Commission recently. 

The first ammonia bunkering infrastructure will be in Algecirasa as part of the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley. The project aims to deploy a ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering system in the port of Algeciras. 

It includes a 7500 m3 ammonia bunkering vessel, an on-shore ship loading system and the piping infrastructure for the transport of ammonia from the production site to the loading dock.  

Meanwhile, the first methanol bunkering infrastructure will be in Huelva, also as part of the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley. The project aims to deploy a ship-to-ship methanol bunkering system in the port of Algeciras. 

It includes a 7500 m3 methanol bunkering vessel, an on shore ship loading system and the piping infrastructure for the transport of methanol from the production site to the loading dock.

The coordinator for both bunkering projects is Spanish bunker fuel supplier CEPSA, which has been renamed to Moeve in October last year. 

The European Commission said the EU is allocating nearly EUR 422 million to the 39 projects that will deploy alternative fuels supply infrastructure along the trans-European transport network (TEN-T), contributing to decarbonisation. 

With this selection, the AFIF will support other projects including approximately 2,500 electric recharging points for light-duty vehicles and 2,400 for heavy-duty vehicles along the European TEN-T road network, 35 hydrogen refuelling stations for cars, trucks and buses, the electrification of ground handling services in eight airports and the greening of nine ports.

Following EU Member States’ approval of the selected projects on 4 February, the European Commission will adopt the award decision in the coming months, after which the results will become definitive. 

The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) has started the preparation of the grant agreements with the beneficiaries of successful projects.

Note: The full list of successful projects can be viewed here.

 

Photo credit: Guillaume Périgois on Unsplash
Published: 11 February, 2025

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