Shine Consultant, the organiser of Green ShipTech Innovation Asia Summit 2025, on Thursday (20 March) announced the line-up of speakers for the event to explore the new trends in the shipping industry. 

With over 300 attendees expected to attend, the Green ShipTech Innovation Asia Summit 2025 will be held in Shanghai, China, on 16 May. 

Themed Diversified Innovation for Sustainable Green Transformation, the summit will host a main forum called Green Development Strategies and Pioneer Practices Towards Zero Carbon Goals and two sub-forums, Green Shipbuilding and Retrofitting Forum and Green Shipping Ecosystem Cooperation Forum. 

It will focus on key issues such as low-carbon ship construction and transformation, the latest green technology equipment, alternative marine fuel selections and supply status and digital ship management technology. 

Speakers for the summit include:

• Li Zhengjian, Chief Expert/Senior Engineer, the Chinese Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
• Karim Fahssis, Decarbonization China Head, Maersk
• Lu Yanhui, Vice President, COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Co., Ltd
• Liu Jianfeng, Chief Technologist, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., LTD.
• Li Zhonggang, Vice President, China Ship Design & Research Center Com.,Ltd.(CSDC)
• Bo Cerup-Simonsen, CEO, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping
• Keiichiro Nakanishi, Managing Executive Officer, MOL(Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.)
• Sun Haihua, Deputy Director of Shanghai Arbitration Commission, Deputy Chairman and Secretary-General of Shanghai International Shipping Center Development and Promotion Organization
• Yan Wei, Vice President, Shanghai Maritime University
• Ye Mao, Deputy President of the Design Research Institute, Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Co., LTD.
• Wee Meng Tan, Chief Projects Officer, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
• Yuan Chao, General Manager of Equipment, CSSC (Hong Kong) Shipping Company Limited
• Zhang Yunxing, Head of the Ballast Water Convention Research Office, Hebei Maritime Safety Administration
• Zhang Yong, Vice President, Shanghai Academy of Development & Reform
• Gou Yingdi, Director of Sustainable Development and General Manager of the Technology and Development (Innovation) Center, Seacon Shipping Group
• Zhao Cuiyun, Deputy Director of the Institute for the Construction of the Shipping Center and Director of the Green Shipping Research Office, Shanghai International Shipping Institute
• Cao Xianfeng, Deputy Chief Digital Planner, COSCO Shipping (Qidong) Offshore Co., Ltd

Conference Framework

May 16 (am) 

Plenary Session: Green Development Strategies and Pioneer Practices Towards Zero Carbon Goals

May 16 (pm)

Sub-Forum I: Green Shipbuilding and Retrofitting Forum
Sub-Forum II: Green Shipping Ecosystem Cooperation Forum

Key Topics

• Maritime regulatory focus under policy guidance towards zero-carbon goals
• Global green ship type product key technologies and applications
• Analysis of paths to improve the efficiency of existing ships
• How shipping companies can achieve sustainable green transformation
• Innovative design methods for green ship types
• Development and design of methanol dual-fuel ship types
• Innovation and application of ship engines and propulsion systems
• Technological application and outlook of wind energy as auxiliary power for ships
• Prospects and challenges of ammonia fuel application
• Innovation in new marine fuels and supply systems
• Upgrading of ship battery systems to meet shipping emission reduction
• Fluid power energy-saving technology and practice to promote the green and low-carbon development of the shipping industry
• Green ship repair, intelligent painting and VOCs management in ship and marine engineering
• Exploration and practice in digital transformation and intelligent upgrading of the ship repair and modification industry
• Practice of ship energy consumption data analysis and carbon intensity management
• SCR technology innovation for NOx reduction in ship diesel engines
• The latest technological applications of "carbon capture" in the shipping industry
• Ballast water management systems in line with international standards
• Shore power systems combined with green electricity to assist shipping decarbonization
• Supply status and choice analysis of the marine green fuel market

Host:

• Shanghai International Shipping Center Development and Promotion Organization

Co-organisers:

• Shanghai Maritime University 
• Shanghai Institute of Navigation
• Jiangsu Association of Shipbuilding Industry
• Jiangsu Society of Naval Architects And Marine Engineers

Supporting Organisations:

• Shanghai Port Association
• Hubei Association of Shipbuilding Industry
• Shanghai International Shipping institute

Interested parties may contact:

Yulia Zhang
T: (+8621) 6095 7179
M:(+86) 158 3615 6079 (Also on WeChat）
E-mail: [email protected] 

Note: More information on the summit, including registration, can be found here. 

Photo credit: Shine Consultant
Published: 21 March, 2025

Cummins on Thursday (6 March) said it has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from DNV for its methanol-ready QSK60 IMO II and IMO III marine engines.

The engines are available in power ratings from 2000 to 2700 hp (1491 - 2013 kW). 

The company said the approval, granted in June 2024, validated Cummins' retrofittable methanol dual-fuel solution for the global marine market, ensuring compliance with the highest standards of safety and performance.

Following extensive field testing, Cummins plans to launch the retrofit kits for the QSK60 post-2028 to align with market demand and infrastructure readiness. Designed for diesel-electric systems, these kits can be integrated with battery technology to optimize efficiency and sustainability.

Dawn Wehr, Cummins Executive Director – Strategy, Product Planning & Digital, said: “Using a retrofittable solution dismisses the need for a major vessel overhaul and creates an immediate positive impact on carbon-emissions reduction. With our continual work on developing solutions for other alcohol fuels, including ethanol, we are committed to providing solutions that work for different operations and fuel infrastructure availabilities to ensure ease of adoption.”

The approval builds on Cummins' August 2023 announcement permitting the use of renewable diesel, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), across its high-horsepower engine range. By leveraging renewable diesel in dual-fuel solutions, ship operators can make significant progress towards reducing carbon emissions.

Photo credit: Cummins
Published: 7 March, 2025

Classification society Lloyd’s Register’s (LR) on Thursday (6 March) said its latest Engine Retrofit Report revealed a surprising development in 2024 – the resurgence of LNG retrofits as shipowners sought immediate carbon reductions to navigate regulatory requirements.

“More than 305 LNG-fuelled ships were ordered last year, accounting for approximately 14% of newbuilding orders, significantly outpacing methanol and ammonia alternatives,” it said. 

While LNG offers a near-term compliance solution, the report warned that deeper emissions reductions will be necessary beyond the next decade. 

“Methane emissions and the long-term availability of bio- and e-LNG remain challenges, but with zero-emission fuel supply chains still in their infancy, many operators see LNG as the most viable retrofit option today,” LR added.

The report revealed that while the maritime industry has made strides in its ability to execute ship engine retrofits for alternative fuels, a critical lack of supply-side incentives threatens to delay progress.  

Since LR's initial report in 2023, the industry has seen the completion of the first methanol fuel conversions since 2015 and a continued expansion of shipyards with retrofit capabilities.  

However, the new report emphasises that the incentives needed to accelerate the adoption of alternative fuels are evolving at a slower pace. Despite regulatory drivers such as the EU’s FuelEU Maritime and Emissions Trading System (ETS), which impose penalties for carbon emissions, demand for alternative fuels remains low due to an absence of strong incentives for fuel producers.

Supply chain readiness is another important factor highlighted in the report. It warns that without improved coordination between engine manufacturers, fuel system suppliers, and shipyards, lead times for conversion projects could stretch beyond 18 months. On the regulatory front, recent amendments to the MARPOL Annex VI NOx Technical Code are expected to ease certification challenges for converted engines.  

Another significant issue identified in the initial report was the limited capacity of shipyards capable of undertaking alternative fuel conversions. While the number of capable yards has increased (around 16 shipyards, mainly in China and the Middle East), the latest report identifies current retrofit capacity at approximately 465 vessel conversions annually—well below the projected peak requirement of over 1,000 conversions per year.  

Despite a slow evolution of new retrofit orders in 2024, engine designers are proactively preparing for future market demands. The relatively shorter lead time for retrofit projects than newbuilds mean that more projects for completion in 2026 and 2027 could be announced in 2025.  

In response to the initial report that identified shipyard capability as a potential obstacle to retrofits, LR has developed a methodology for evaluating potential shipyard candidates. This provides shipowners with confidence that chosen partners can fulfil retrofit project requirements.  

Claudene Sharp-Patel, LR's Global Technical Director said: “LR’s new Engine Retrofit Report demonstrates that while technology and regulations are evolving, decisive action is needed to secure the future fuel landscape. The technology and shipyard capacity to retrofit vessels is improving, but without decisive action to scale up alternative fuel supply chains, shipowners will face increasing compliance costs and operational uncertainty. We need greater regulatory clarity and investment to bridge the gap between ambition and action.” 

Note: The Engine Retrofit Report 2025 update can be found here. 

Photo credit: Lloyd’s Register’s
Published: 7 March, 2025