Alternative Fuels

DNV Industry Insights: Digital support for low-carbon bunker fuel supply chains

DNV’s Martin Wold answers key questions about the Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) and Fuelboss platforms that support shipping’s energy transition.

Published

4 years ago

March 31, 2022

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Classification society DNV on Thursday (31 March) published an article on its Maritime Impact platform featuring an interview with Martin Wold, Principal Consultant at DNV, Maritime Advisory, who answers key questions about its Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) and Fuelboss online tools that support shipping’s energy transition.

The interview discusses current and future bunkering options on the back of a growing LNG-powered fleet and new emerging alternative fuels.

DNV: DNV offers the Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform and the FuelBoss tool. Could you provide a brief description of both platforms?

MW: The AFI platform was developed to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of, and insight into, the ongoing energy transition in shipping. With currently more than 8,000 users, it gives decision support to all types of industry stakeholders. The bunkering infrastructure and the availability of alternative fuels are essential to support the decarbonization of shipping, and having a reliable and comprehensive source of information is key to supporting and accelerating the energy transition. This is one of our contributions to help solve the chicken-and-egg problem. FuelBoss is focused on fully digitalizing the procurement of green fuels for shipping including bunkering operations, starting with LNG. FuelBoss is a fully digital and collaborative platform for LNG fuel suppliers and shipowners. It facilitates the entire LNG bunkering process from nomination placement to the signing of the Bunker Delivery Note (BDN), including electronic checklists and digital BDN signatures.

DNV: What are the main benefits for subscribers of AFI or FuelBoss?

MW: Keeping track of all bunkering options and planning for all relevant alternative fuels is more than a full-time job. With AFI you get all this consolidated and detailed information presented on user-friendly dashboards and in map views, most of it free of charge. The premium subscription, which delivers the full details, is particularly useful for fuel suppliers, equipment makers and consultants. FuelBoss is a highly efficient platform for established suppliers to operationalize their entire LNG contract portfolio, and for buyers to get easy and direct access to the majority of LNG suppliers worldwide using one common interface across different suppliers. FuelBoss captures operational data and makes it available for analysis to improve operational efficiency. It cuts bunker times and improves bunker vessel utilization, makes the process more efficient for crews and back offices, and supports order-to-cash systems. For new suppliers FuelBoss is also a very valuable “starter kit” with proven recommended practices including operational documents and templates. Comprehensive market insights incorporating AIS data enable suppliers to monitor the market and identify near-term opportunities.

DNV: Who should subscribe to which platform and why?

MW: AFI is the industry’s most comprehensive knowledge hub for alternative fuels and technologies. It is a great tool for anyone working on or interested in alternative fuels and decarbonization of shipping, in particular those considering fuel options for newbuilds or investing in bunkering infrastructure for alternative fuels. Information about the availability of alternative and future fuels is key input for decision-making. FuelBoss is of particular interest to all shipping companies operating or ordering LNG-fuelled ships as well as all LNG suppliers. The high supply chain costs of alternative fuels make efficient procurement and utilization a must to stay competitive. The biggest saving potential lies in the interaction between the supplier and the buyer, the bunker vessel and the receiving vessel. This is why we strive for a common industry approach to digitalization. Our platform approach also supports the new phase of the LNG bunker market with significantly more suppliers and buyers in the game, higher requirements for trading area flexibility and increasing competition.

DNV: What further developments on these platforms can subscribers expect?

MW: As for AFI, we intend to expand the coverage of alternative fuels and associated bunkering infrastructure. For the medium term, we are exploring a couple of completely new features and tools to support the industry in evaluating its options. As the active user base of FuelBoss grows beyond Europe, we will expand the platform to cover bunkering in Singapore and North America, including new safety checklists, unit conversions, etc. To further support efficient planning, operations and back-office activities we are also working on implementing vessel ETA predictions, API integration of onboard IoT sensors as well as supplier order-to-cash systems and buyer procurement systems. We will also roll out some tools to support procurement processes. Customers will shortly see a bunker availability map, indicating exactly which suppliers have a track record in which areas. Working closely with external partners, we also intend to make a price feed available so users can keep track of the latest fuel price developments. Then there are plans to support a fully digital work process for bunkering hydrogen and methanol in response to requests from the market. We are fully committed to supporting the development of any green fuel for shipping and there are now a handful of projects coming online.

DNV: What uptake of LNG bunkering do you expect for the next two to three years?

MW: In spite of the grim short-term outlook for the LNG bunker market, with record high gas prices and dual-fuel vessels taking advantage of their fuel flexibility, the medium- and long-term outlook is really quite exciting for LNG suppliers. There is a real step change in growth happening at the moment, with a significant amount of buyers and suppliers entering this space. Over the next three years the number of ships on the water will triple, with mainly large ships being delivered. The LNG bunker market will grow to more than 6 million tonnes per annum by 2025, equivalent to nearly 3% of the global marine fuel market. Half of that volume is added by ships ordered in 2021 alone. Simple extrapolation will tell you that a share of 10% in the global LNG bunker market by 2030 is well within reach. Whether or not the order boom of 2021 will continue remains to be seen, but there have been no signs of a slowdown in Q1. Owners are seeing CII and other greenhouse gas regulations as incentives to switch to lower-carbon fuels a few years into a newbuild’s lifetime. Right now there aren’t really any other mature options other than LNG.

About Martin Wold, Principal Consultant at DNV, Maritime Advisory

Martin was the original Product Manager for AFI. He is now Product Manager for FuelBoss and fully dedicated to establishing a common industry platform for the LNG bunkering of ships. Martin has more than a decade of experience in alternative fuels for shipping, especially LNG. In his career he has, amongst other things, been supporting numerous owners and charterers with feasibility assessments of various alternative fuels and he is managing the application review for the Norwegian NOx Fund.

Photo credit: DNV
Source: DNV Maritime Impact
Published: 31 March, 2022

Biofuel

South Korea: S-Oil launches B30-VLSFO bio bunker fuel supply

Company says it has established an integrated operating system in the Ulsan region covering the entire value chain, from feedstock procurement and blending to supply.

Published

1 hour ago

July 23, 2026

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South Korea: S-Oil launches B30-VLSFO bio bunker fuel supply

South Korean petroleum and refining company S-Oil on Wednesday (22 July) said it has started supplying B30 very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), as the company seeks to support shipping’s decarbonisation efforts and growing demand for lower-carbon bunker fuels.

The company said its B30 VLSFO contains 30% sustainable biofuel blended with conventional VLSFO and can be used without requiring modifications to existing vessels, enabling shipowners to comply more readily with emissions regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Union (EU).

S-Oil said it has established an integrated operating system in the Ulsan region covering the entire value chain, from feedstock procurement and blending to supply. The system combines VLSFO produced at its Onsan refinery with biofuel production facilities and storage infrastructure in the Ulsan region, allowing the entire process to be carried out within a single logistics hub.

According to the company, the integrated supply chain reduces transportation requirements during production while improving supply efficiency and reliability.

S-Oil also highlighted Ulsan Port as a strategic location for marine biofuel supply, noting the port has strong demand for bio-bunker fuels, particularly from car carriers, enabling prompt and stable deliveries to key customers.

An S-Oil official stated: “In the bio-marine fuel market, not only product quality but also securing a stable supply of raw materials and an efficient supply system are important competitive advantages.

“Based on our existing bunkering business capabilities and the excellent supply infrastructure in the Onsan area, we plan to supply stable and competitive low-carbon fuel.”

Photo credit: S-Oil
Published: 23 July, 2026

Bunker Fuel

Antwerp-Bruges biofuel bunker sales drops 36% on year in Q2 2026, LNG down 13.4%

Biofuel recorded 26,833 mt in Q2 2026 with 41,939 mt recorded in the same period the year before while port data showed 76,513 mt of LNG being delivered in Q2 2026, down from 88,328 mt.

Published

1 hour ago

July 23, 2026

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The Port of Antwerp-Bruges recently published bunker fuel sales data for the second quarter (Q2) of 2026.

Total bunker sales at the port was 2.05 million metric tonnes (mt) in Q2 2026, compared to sales of 1.99 million mt (+3%) during the similar period in 2025.

Deliveries of ultra low sulphur fuel oil, very low sulphur fuel oil, high sulphur fuel oil and marine gas oil in Q2 2026 (against on year) recorded respectively 164,987 mt (+43.6% from 114,917 mt), 537,926 mt (+12.8% from 476,746 mt), 659,182 mt (+11.6% from 590,544 mt) and 366,329 (-15.7% from 434,766 mt).

Biofuel recorded 26,833 mt in Q2 2026 with 41,939 mt (-36%) recorded in the same period the year before.

Port data showed 76,513 mt of liquefied natural gas (LNG) being delivered as a marine fuel in Q2 2026, down by 13.4% from 88,328 mt in Q2 2025. Meanwhile, there has been no deliveries of methanol at the port for the year so far.

Photo credit: Port of Antwerp-Bruges
Published: 23 July, 2026

Methanol

World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to “Arctic Tern” via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel “M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan”.

Published

1 day ago

July 22, 2026

Admin

World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Marine fuel provider World Fuel on Tuesday (21 July) said it successfully completed the first green methanol bunkering of M/V Arctic Tern, with EUKOR Car Carriers and SIPG Energy at the Port of Shanghai.

Arctic Tern is the first vessel in the new Shaper Class series of car carriers.

The operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to Arctic Tern via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, the largest vessel of its kind in operation.

The bunkering operation was carried out at Haitong Terminal, Waigaoqiao Port Area, Shanghai Port, with cargo handling operations conducted simultaneously during bunkering.

This marks EUKOR Car Carriers’ first green methanol operation and the first time Arctic Tern has bunkered methanol since its delivery on 9 July. The operation marked the first bunkering at Shanghai Port of green methanol produced locally in Shanghai for an international PCTC operator.

It also demonstrated the city’s integrated green methanol value chain, spanning local production, storage and bunkering, and established a replicable “Shanghai Model” for green methanol supply.

World Fuel arranged the supply and delivery of the fuel on behalf of EUKOR Car Carriers, working with SIPG Energy as the physical supplier at the Port of Shanghai.

The green methanol supplied was produced from municipal solid waste, ISCC-EU certified, and had a carbon intensity value below 25 gCO₂e/MJ.

Arctic Tern is the first of fourteen Shaper Class vessels ordered by Wallenius Wilhelmsen. With a capacity of 9,300 car equivalent units and methanol dual-fuel capability, the vessel will be operated by EUKOR Car Carriers, jointly owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Hyundai Motor Group. Following her first green methanol bunkering, Arctic Tern will continue her maiden voyage from Asia to Europe.

Xavier Leroi, COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen and CEO of EUKOR Car Carriers, said: “Completing Arctic Tern’s first green methanol bunkering shortly after delivery is a significant milestone towards our decarbonisation ambition for both EUKOR Car Carriers and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. It demonstrates how investments in next-generation vessel technology and fuel flexibility are being translated into real-world operations.

“This achievement reflects the strong collaboration between all parties involved. Together, we have shown how partnerships across the maritime value chain can help make lower-emission fuels available and operationally viable at scale.”

Mark Tamsitt, SVP Global Marine Sales at World Fuel, said, “The first bunkering event with a new fuel is a significant moment for any shipowner, and our role is to make it as seamless as possible. By connecting EUKOR Car Carriers with SIPG Energy’s proven green methanol capability at the Port of Shanghai, we were able to deliver on reliable supply, fuel quality, and safe processes. As more of our customers bring methanol dual-fuel tonnage into service, we are committed to being the partner that makes these kinds of operations routine.”

Mr. Zhang Da, General Manager of SIPG Energy, said, “Welcoming Arctic Tern to the Port of Shanghai for her first green methanol bunkering demonstrates the strength and maturity of our supply capability. Building on our well-established methanol ship-to-ship bunkering services for container vessels, we have already extended such services to pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs). This bunkering sets a new record for the largest single SIMOPs green methanol bunkering for PCTCs in China, marking another step in building Shanghai’s position as a global green energy hub for international shipping.”

This operation follows Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s announcement on 9 July that Arctic Tern would complete her first methanol bunkering shortly after delivery. The vessel entered service on routes between Asia and Europe immediately following handover from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing.

Photo credit: World Fuel
Published: 22 July, 2026