Events

China: Headway unveils proprietary Methanol Fuel Supply System and CCSU, leads forum on alternative bunker fuel and propulsion technology

Headway Technology Group organised a forum discussing the latest advancements and prospects of alternative bunker fuels and propulsion technologies in late October.

Published

3 years ago

November 6, 2023

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Qingdao-based maritime technology firm Headway Technology Group (Headway) on Friday (27 October) organised the Forum of Alternative Fuel and Propulsion Technology in Yantai, China.

With the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry (CANSI) and the China Shipowners’ Association (CSA) as hosts, many representatives from government agencies, industrial associations, ship owners, shipyards and naval design institutes gathered at this event to engage in detailed discussions on the latest advancements and prospects of alternative bunker fuels and propulsion technologies.

During the forum, Headway showcased its groundbreaking Methanol Fuel Supply System, which was in live operation. The event garnered support from notable organisations, including the Shandong Provincial Association of the Shipbuilding Industry (SPASI), Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI) and leading universities.

Headway took centre stage at the forum by unveiling two advanced decarbonisation solutions: the Methanol Fuel Supply System (LFSS) and the Carbon Capture, Storage and Utilisation System (CCSU).

Additionally, the firm formalised a Cooperation Agreement on Alternative Fuel Conversion with PaxOcean Engineering Zhoushan Co., Ltd and SDARI.

Under this agreement, the three companies will collaborate to provide comprehensive turnkey solutions, encompassing retrofitting, installation, commissioning and technical/after-sales support for alternative bunker fuel sources such as methanol and ammonia. The partnership is anticipated to yield mutual benefits for the entire supply chain and, most importantly, for the customer.

Ms. Naifen Tan, Deputy Secretary General of CANSI, emphasised that the global economic slowdown has introduced increased uncertainties and challenges. Furthermore, with the finalisation of the “2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships”, the shipping industry has embarked on a faster journey toward decarbonisation.

In this context, the shipbuilding industry finds itself at a crossroads, brimming with both opportunities and challenges. There is an urgent need for a stronger commitment to digitalisation and green technologies, fostering the growth of intelligent manufacturing and integrated solutions. These steps are essential in empowering a bottom-up approach to conversion.

Ms. Tan commended the forum for providing a valuable platform for the industry to explore possibilities for steering the shipping sector toward a greener future.

The other two specially invited guests further prepared speeches. Ms. Ying Xin from Department of industry and information Technology, and Mr. Hailong, Chen from a leading university, underscored that venturing down the path of industrialisation is a critical objective for achieving industrialisation with distinct Chinese characteristics.

Both emphasised that promoting innovation serves as the cornerstone of industrialisation, and sustainability should be ingrained as an integral element of this process. It was mentioned in a recent provincial ship and offshore supply chain conference, the paramount importance and concentrating efforts should be put in key areas and prioritising major tasks aimed at fostering the exclusive, intelligent and sustainable development of the shipping industry.

Universities should fully take the advantages of talents and scientific and technological innovation, cooperate with suppliers in the industry, seize the research and development opportunities of key technologies for green ships, and jointly promote the update and iteration of new energy power technologies for ships.

During the forum, Mr. Yao Yu, the Director of the Mechanical and Electrical Department at the Development Institute of Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co., Ltd., delivered a keynote speech on “The Application of Methanol Propulsion Systems for Large Container Carriers”. He shared Jiangnan’s extensive expertise in the design and construction of large, low-carbon container carriers.

Dr. Enzhe Song, an expert in marine power and propulsion, representing leading Chinese universities, gave a speech titled “Development Path of Marine Propulsion”. The presentation provided a detailed introduction to the strategic requirements and potential development pathways for alternative marine fuels. Dr. Song’s speech also outlined a practical approach for Chinese shipping companies to achieve green and sustainable development tailored to their specific needs.

Kechao Lu, the Director of the Strategy & Development Department at Headway, delivered a speech titled “Headway’s Low Carbon Solutions based on the Strategy for Reduction of GHG Emissions”. This presentation fully unveiled Headway’s comprehensive solutions for low-carbon shipping, along with sharing data analytics from bench tests of the OceanGuard® LFSS.

Zhuo Zhang, Director of the Innovation Center at SDARI, introduced SDARI’s brand-new Dolphin 210,000 and 85,000 DWT methanol dual-fuel bulk carriers. He also shared insights on optimized tanker and PCTC designs.

Hongxing Li, Promotion Manager at MAN Energy Solutions, delivered a speech titled “Introduction to Two-Stroke Methanol Marine Engines and Auxiliary Systems”. This presentation provided technical specifications for MAN’s two-stroke methanol engines, highlighted major components, and discussed modular retrofitting.

Field visit to Headway’s alternative fuel test centre

Later in the afternoon, the speakers and audience had the opportunity to visit Headway’s alternative fuel test centre to observe the OceanGuard® Methanol Fuel Supply System in action. The test centre was purposefully designed to serve as an intelligent platform, facilitating technical research, commercialisation, product testing and talent development. The field visit provided an in-depth understanding of the components and operational aspects of the OceanGuard® LFSS, including the Methanol Supply Unit, Bunkering Unit, Service Tank and Control Unit.

“The forum, as a whole, serves as a pivotal platform for the alternative fuel value chain to foster communication and collaboration. It is poised to drive the industry toward a greener future, characterised by mutual benefits. This collective effort will propel the industry along a steady and sustainable path toward a more environmentally conscious course,” Headway concluded.

Photo credit: Headway Technology Group
Published: 6 November, 2023

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Bunker Fuel

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (August 2026)

China sold 1.61 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in August, with the daily sales at 51,974 mt, down by 9.62% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Published

2 days ago

September 11, 2026

Admin

Beijing-based commodity market information provider JLC Network Technology Co. recently shared its JLC China Bunker monthly report for August 2026 with Manifold Times through an exclusive arrangement:

Bunker Fuel Demand

China’s bonded bunker fuel sales decline in August

China sold 1.61 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in August, with the daily sales at 51,974 mt, down by 9.62% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Typhoons continued in many regions in August, and some ports in East China even suspended bunkering temporarily.

Meanwhile, bonded bunker fuel supply at some domestic ports remained tight, which also dragged down the sales.

Shipowners were still cautious about bunkering as bonded bunker fuel prices remained on the rise.

Regarding the sales by supplier, the sales by Chimbusco, Sinopec (Zhoushan), SinoBunker, and China Changjiang Bunker (Sinopec) respectively settled at 315,000 mt, 620,000 mt, 57,000 mt, and 5,000 mt in the month, while those by suppliers with regional bunkering licenses settled at 614,200 mt.

China’s LSFO output drops in August

Chinese refiners produced about 1.12 million mt of low-sulfur fuel oil (LSFO) in August, with the daily output at 36,258 mt, a cut of 12.87% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Specifically, Sinopec’s LSFO output slipped in the month, as refineries were more inclined to produce gasoline and diesel when cracking spreads of these two products increased.

Meanwhile, certain refineries were still under maintenance, which also capped the overall output.

PetroChina lowered its refineries’ LSFO production plans due to tightening export quotas.

By contrast, CNOOC recorded an increase in its output, with T aizhou Petrochemical resuming production.

Zhoushan Petrochemical did not produce any LSFO in the month.

ZPC and Sinochem did not produce any LSFO in the month, but the latter produced and exported 10,000 mt of marine gas oil (MGO).

Screenshot 2026 09 11 at 1.38.01 PM

Screenshot 2026 09 11 at 1.38.09 PM

Domestic-trade bunker fuel demand weakens in August

Domestic-trade bunker fuel demand continued to weaken in August, as inland and coastal shipping remained seasonally tepid and port operations in East China were hindered by severe weather.

Domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel demand settled at 270,000 mt in the month, with the daily demand at 8,710 mt, down by 10.00% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

In the meantime, domestic-trade light bunker fuel demand fell to 120,000 mt, with the daily volume at 3,871 mt, down by 14.29% from the prior month, the data shows. Downstream buying interest was depressed by high MGO prices.

Bunker Fuel Supply

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports increase in July

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports increased in July, as some bonded distributors resumed imports of LSFO after a three-month suspension.

The country imported 530,400 mt of bonded bunker fuel in the month, a modest boost of 2.93% month on month, calculations show, based on the GACC data.

Bonded bunker suppliers imported some LSFO to meet demand when domestic production retreated.

In addition, they increased purchases of imported high-sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) in June when the conflict between the U.S. and Iran eased, leading to a rise in the arrivals for July.

The arrivals of imported MGO also grew in July.

On a year-on-year comparison, however, China’s bonded bunker fuel imports plunged by 17.54% in July.

Regarding the imports by source, Russia remained the largest supplier by exporting 234,600 mt of bonded bunker fuel to China, accounting for 44.23% of the latter’s total imports. Singapore became the second largest supplier with 153,800 mt, accounting for 29.00%, while South Korea slipped to the third place with 81,100 mt, accounting for 15.30%. Japan ranked fourth with 60,800 mt, accounting for 11.47%.

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports totaled 3.91 million mt in the first seven months of this year, an increase of 1.68% from the same period of time in 2025, calculations also indicate.

Screenshot 2026 09 11 at 1.38.32 PM

Domestic-trade bunker fuel supply tightens in August

Chinese blenders supplied 250,000 mt of domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel in August, with the daily supply at 8,065 mt, down by 7.41% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Despite some unit restarts, blendstock supply was still relatively tight, especially low-sulfur residual oil supply .

Meanwhile, blenders in North China showed lower blending interest amid stricter tax inspections, and they maintained low inventories of consumption-tax-included bunker fuel.

Domestic-trade MGO supply settled at 150,000 mt in August, with the daily supply at 4,839 mt, down by 11.76% month on month, the data shows. Refineries’ production enthusiasm was dampened by high feedstock costs and tight feedstock supply.

Screenshot 2026 09 11 at 1.38.47 PM

Bunker Prices, Profits

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Editor
Yvette Luo
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Sales (Beijing)
Tony Tang
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JLC Network Technology Co., Ltd is recognised as the leading information provider in China. We specialise in providing the transparent, high-value, authoritative market intelligence and professional analysis in commodity market. Our expertise covers oil, gas, coal, chemical, plastic, rubber, fertilizer and metal industry, etc.

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report is published by JLC Network Technology Co., Ltd every month on China bunker market, demand, supply, margin, freight index, forecast and so on. The report provides full-scale & concise insight into China bunker oil market.

Note: China-based commodity market information provider JLC Technology has been providing Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times China bunker volume data since 2020. Data from earlier periods are available here.

Photo credit: JLC Network Technology
Published: 11 September, 2026

Ammonia

Amogy and LOTTE Fine Chemical to explore ammonia bunkering in South Korea

Under a MoU, both will explore supplying ammonia to vessels equipped with Amogy’s Ammonia-to-Power technology, leveraging LFC’s ammonia terminal at Ulsan Port and ship-bunkering capabilities.

Published

2 days ago

September 11, 2026

Admin

Amogy, LOTTE Fine Chemical to explore ammonia bunkering in South Korea

Ammonia-to-power solutions provider Amogy and LOTTE Fine Chemical Co Ltd (LFC) on Thursday (10 September) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly advance ammonia-to-hydrogen and ammonia-to-power solutions in South Korea.

Under the MoU, Amogy and LFC will explore collaboration across three priority areas that combine LFC’s ammonia supply and infrastructure capabilities with Amogy’s downstream ammonia cracking and power generation technology.

In hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, LFC would supply green ammonia through its overseas procurement and domestic infrastructure, with Amogy’s ammonia cracking technology converting the ammonia into high-purity hydrogen on-site for use at hydrogen refueling stations.

For distributed ammonia-to-power generation at commercial and community-scale sites, LFC would provide ammonia supply, storage, and logistics, while Amogy would provide its Ammonia-to-Power generation modules, including fuel cell or internal combustion engine configurations.

In marine ammonia bunkering, the companies would explore supplying ammonia to vessels equipped with Amogy’s Ammonia-to-Power technology, leveraging LFC’s ammonia terminal at Ulsan Port and ship-bunkering capabilities.

“As Korea continues to build out its clean ammonia and hydrogen infrastructure, partnerships that connect upstream supply with downstream technology are essential to accelerating deployment,” said Seonghoon Woo, CEO of Amogy.

“LOTTE Fine Chemical’s ammonia infrastructure, paired with our ammonia-to-hydrogen and ammonia-to-power technology, gives us a strong foundation to advance hydrogen refuelling, distributed power, and marine applications across the region.”

“LFC has built the infrastructure to import, store, and supply ammonia safely and at scale, including the world’s first ship-bunkering supply of ammonia,” said Suk Min Hwang, Vice President of Ammonia Business Division at LOTTE Fine Chemical.

“This collaboration with Amogy allows us to extend that infrastructure into new downstream applications, supporting Korea’s transition to a clean ammonia and hydrogen economy.”

LFC has achieved the world’s first commercial import of green ammonia in addition to the world’s first domestic ship-bunkering supply using green ammonia.

Amogy’s proprietary ammonia cracking technology enables the efficient conversion of ammonia into hydrogen, supporting both high-purity hydrogen production and ammonia-to-power generation across stationary, distributed, and marine applications.

Building on the MoU, Amogy and LFC will continue joint evaluation of collaboration opportunities across hydrogen refuelling, distributed power, and marine ammonia bunkering, with further details on project scope and timing to be finalised for execution.

Photo credit: Amogy
Published: 11 September, 2026

Events

PIL’s new LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elan” makes maiden call in Singapore

“Kota Elan” is currently operating on PIL’s East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route that connects Asia with South America and is now on its way to Brazil.

Published

2 days ago

September 11, 2026

Admin

PIL’s new LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elan” makes maiden call in Singapore

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd (PIL) on Thursday (10 September) said its newest 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel Kota Elan made its maiden call in Singapore on 4 September.

In a social media post, PIL said a ceremony was held on board the vessel where representatives from PSA Singapore presented a commemorative plaque to the Master of Kota Elan, Captain Thanabalan Govindaraju, marking its inaugural call at one of the world’s busiest and most connected ports.

The company said Kota Elan is currently operating on PIL’s East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route that connects Asia with South America.

The vessel is now on its way to Brazil, before calling at Uruguay and Argentina, and then finally returning to Asia.

“As one of the latest additions to our growing fleet of greener vessels, Kota Elan reflects PIL’s commitment to building a more sustainable future for shipping through cleaner and more efficient operations,” the company said.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 11 September, 2026