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DNV Decarbonization Insight Series August 2026 - What maritime professionals should know about AI Training

Alternative Fuels

Fuelre4m: Gulf tensions expose fragility of emerging alternative bunker fuel systems

‘The current situation highlights how fragile these emerging fuel systems remain compared to the resilience of established oil and gas infrastructure,’ says CEO Rob Mortimer.

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Rising geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are underscoring a critical reality for the global maritime industry, said Dubai-based clean-fuel technology firm Fuelre4m on Tuesday (24 March). 

Despite accelerating decarbonisation efforts, the world economy,  and shipping in particular, remains deeply dependent on traditional oil and gas energy systems.

Rob Mortimer, CEO of Fuelre4m, emphasised that recent instability in the Gulf has triggered immediate reactions in global energy markets, revealing the disconnect between policy ambitions and operational realities.

“While the industry is moving toward alternative fuels such as LNG, methanol and ammonia, geopolitics operates on a different timeline,” said Mortimer. 

“The current situation highlights how fragile these emerging fuel systems remain compared to the resilience of established oil and gas infrastructure.”

For more than a century, hydrocarbons have benefited from a vast, highly reliable global supply chain, enabling vessels to refuel virtually anywhere in the world. By contrast, alternative fuel infrastructure is still in its early stages. LNG bunkering is limited to a small number of ports, methanol production remains geographically concentrated, and green ammonia depends on renewable energy and hydrogen systems that have yet to reach industrial scale.

This disparity creates operational risk. In times of disruption, vessels capable of using alternative fuels often revert to conventional fuel oil, effectively making cleaner fuels optional rather than essential.

Mortimer also highlighted a broader economic paradox within the decarbonisation agenda. While global emissions reduction remains a central goal, current systems often shift emissions geographically rather than eliminating them entirely. Carbon markets, regulatory differences and globalised manufacturing can result in emissions being offset or relocated instead of reduced.

Within shipping, regulatory frameworks are driving significant investment in new propulsion technologies and fuel systems. However, Mr Mortimer noted that the transition has become heavily focused on fuel replacement rather than fuel reduction.

“One of the most immediate and cost-effective ways to reduce emissions is simply to use less fuel,” he said. “Operational efficiency, improved combustion and optimisation technologies can deliver meaningful reductions today, yet they receive far less policy attention.”

As a result, many shipowners are navigating what has been described as a “compliance-driven economy,” where substantial capital is directed toward meeting regulatory requirements rather than prioritising the most direct emission reduction strategies.

The geopolitical dimension further complicates the transition. Key global tensions continue to centre around energy supply routes  from the Strait of Hormuz to European gas corridors and emerging Arctic shipping lanes, reinforcing the continued strategic importance of hydrocarbons.

“The reality is that the energy transition is not yet replacing the existing system, it is being layered on top of it,” Mr Mortimer concluded. 

“Until the global economy focuses on reducing overall energy consumption, rather than simply substituting fuels, geopolitical events will continue to expose the systems that truly power the world.”

 

Photo credit: Fuelre4m
Published: 25 March, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

Shell expands LNG bunkering footprint in Spain with Valencia

As one of the region’s key maritime hubs, the company said Valencia expands the options available to shipowners seeking LNG supply along major shipping routes.

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Shell expands LNG bunkering footprint in Spain with Valencia

British oil giant Shell on Thursday (13 August) said Valencia has joined its growing network of bunkering locations, making LNG available as a marine fuel.

The successful completion of the first LNG bunkering operation in Valencia marked an important milestone for Spain and further strengthened Shell’s LNG supply capabilities across the Mediterranean. 

In a video shared by the company, bunkering vessel Alice Consulich was shown supplying an undisclosed volume of LNG to the container ship MSC Sabrina.

“As one of the region’s key maritime hubs, Valencia expands the options available to shipowners seeking LNG supply along major shipping routes,” Shell said in a social media post. 

Shell said the achievement reflected the strong collaboration across the maritime value chain, including MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, the Port of Valencia and Fratelli Cosulich Group.

“We look forward to making more LNG bunker deliveries in Valencia and across the Mediterranean as LNG infrastructure and capabilities continue to expand,” the company said. 

 

Photo credit: Shell
Published: 14 August, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

Énestas and Power LNG join forces on Galveston bunkering

Énestas will provide capital, LNG transport and storage equipment, and downstream expertise to support Power LNG’s planned liquefaction and marine bunkering facility on Pelican Island.

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Stabilis Solutions enter 10-year LNG bunkering supply deal for Port of Galveston

Power LNG (Power LNG) and Mexico’s LNG infrastructure and downstream natural gas company Énestas on Wednesday (12 August) announced the execution of definitive agreements establishing a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of LNG infrastructure at the Port of Galveston.

Under the agreement, Énestas will provide capital, LNG transportation and storage equipment, and downstream operating expertise to support the development of the Harborside Terminal and Project Seawolf, Power LNG’s planned LNG liquefaction and marine bunkering facility on Pelican Island.

The partnership creates an immediate pathway to begin LNG distribution by truck while Project Seawolf is under development, supporting marine fueling, virtual pipeline customers, industrial users, and LNG exports throughout the Gulf Coast, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

“Our vision has always been to establish Galveston as the premier LNG hub for the Gulf Coast,” said Austin Terry, Founder and CEO of Power LNG. 

“Énestas brings years of operational experience, proven LNG infrastructure, and a talented team that understands how to deliver LNG safely and efficiently. Together, we can immediately begin serving customers while laying the foundation for one of the most strategic LNG bunkering facilities in North America.”

Project Seawolf will provide LNG for marine bunkering, truck loading, virtual pipeline distribution, and international exports. The facility is strategically located at the Port of Galveston, serving one of the fastest-growing cruise, cargo, and energy corridors in the United States.

For Énestas, the transaction represented an important milestone in the company’s international growth strategy.

“This partnership represents a natural evolution for Énestas as we expand our downstream LNG business into the United States,” said Caio Zapata, Chief Executive Officer of Énestas. 

“For more than a decade, Énestas has developed and operated LNG infrastructure throughout Mexico, helping customers transition to cleaner, more reliable energy. Partnering with Power LNG allows us to leverage that experience in one of the most attractive LNG markets in North America. We see tremendous opportunities in marine bunkering, virtual pipeline logistics, industrial LNG supply, and exports to Latin America and the Caribbean, and we are excited to build that future together.”

The companies expect the partnership to support near-term LNG truck loading operations while advancing the long-term development of Project Seawolf, which is designed to become a regional hub for LNG production, marine fueling, and distribution.

The collaboration also establishes a platform to pursue additional downstream LNG opportunities throughout the Gulf Coast, utilising Énestas’ operational expertise together with Power LNG’s project development capabilities.

 

Photo credit: Port of Galveston
Published: 14 August, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

Stabilis delivers more than 150,000 cbm of LNG bunker fuel at Galveston

Company says the advancement of its proposed Stabilis Galveston LNG Facility is a natural progression of its established LNG bunkering footprint in Galveston.

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Stabilis delivers more than 150,000 cbm of LNG bunker fuel at Galveston

Clean energy production solutions provider Stabilis Solutions (Stabilis) on Thursday (13 August) said it has completed 97 LNG bunkering operations and delivered more than 150,000 m³ of LNG to customers in the Port of Galveston.

“As the only physical supplier of LNG on the Gulf Coast to reach this milestone, we’ve earned a reputation as a trusted, proven operator — both with local Galveston stakeholders and with the world’s largest cruise operator,” the company said in a social media post.

“That trust is reflected in the 10-year LNG offtake agreement we executed in December 2025.”

The company said the advancement of its proposed Stabilis Galveston LNG Facility is a natural progression of its established LNG bunkering footprint in Galveston. 

“As a Houston-based company, we believe in the Texas economy and the future growth of the Port of Galveston,” it added.

“That belief is why we’ve invested heavily over the past four years in the planning, permitting, and engineering design work to develop the most advanced, derisked, shovel-ready small-scale LNG liquefaction project on the Gulf Coast.”

Manifold Times previously reported Stabilis stating that the proposed Stabilis Galveston LNG Facility is anticipated to be in production by the third quarter of 2028.

It will come complete with the delivery of the first new-build, dedicated Jones Act-compliant LNG bunker barge in the Galveston/Houston area.

This comes following Stabilis receiving a Letter of Recommendation from the US Coast Guard following their formal review of the proposed Stabilis Galveston LNG Facility and associated waterfront LNG loading, marine transportation, and LNG bunkering operations in the Port of Galveston.

Related: Stabilis Solutions targets Q3 2028 launch for Galveston LNG bunkering facility
Related: Stabilis Solutions terminates 10-year LNG supply deal, expects delay in Galveston project

 

Photo credit: Stabilis Solutions
Published: 14 August, 2026

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