Alternative Fuels

FUJCON to make its physical return at Fujairah in UAE on 13 to 15 March 2023

Forum will examine market developments and Fujairah’s future bunker fuel options from supply, operational, environmental and economic perspectives.

Published

1 year ago

December 7, 2022

Admin

The International Fujairah Bunkering & Fuel Oil Forum (FUJCON) will be returning for an in-person, 13th convening in Fujairah on 13 to 15 March, 2023, following the 2021 virtual session and the last in-person session in 2019, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to S&P Global on Monday (5 December).

The International Fujairah Bunkering & Fuel Oil Forum is now organised by S&P Global Commodity Insights and hosted by the Department of Industry & Economy, Government of Fujairah and the Port of Fujairah. FUJCON 2023 is held under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah. It is supported by the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone.

FUJCON 2023 is expected to attract participants from the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. They will include leading oil and bunker producers, traders, oil majors, national oil companies, shipowners and operators, managers, brokers, charterers, terminal operators, refiners, classification societies, shipping consultants and digital technologists, as well as banks and exchanges, legal firms, regulators, testing laboratories, renewable energy players, and other supply/service companies.

This year’s FUJCON 2023 theme is The Maritime Energy Transition and Future Fuels and the forum will explore the energy transition and carbon reduction requirements that are forcing a paradigm shift in the maritime industry. It will examine market developments and Fujairah’s future fuel options from the supply, operational, environmental and economic perspectives, as well as the possible technologies, investments, delivery infrastructure and industry collaboration needed to uncover new low-carbon maritime solutions and achieve sustainability goals.

Dr Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi, Chairman of the FUJCON Steering Committee, said: “Against the backdrop of Fujairah, which is recognised as a global hub for bunkering, oil storage, and crude and petroleum products supply, FUJCON 2023 will provide an exciting opportunity for key players in the bunkering and maritime industries to come together for both critical discussions and the Forum’s networking opportunities. We are delighted to be hosting FUJCON in-person once again, providing a meeting ground for the important dialogues, deliberations and discussions that have been a distinguishing feature of FUJCON since its inception, as well as the networking opportunities that have been its hallmark over the years”

Fujairah is experiencing the development of a number of major projects that will further strengthen its leading position as the Middle East’s largest storage & trading hub, significantly increase its dry-bulk footprint and enhance its maritime service offering. By the beginning of 2023, the port will commission its new dry-bulk export facility in Dibba, adding an initial 18 million tons of aggregate handling capacity.

Also expected in 2023 is the Etihad Rail project, which will connect Fujairah by rail with other key economic zones in the United Arab Emirates for the movement of containers & general cargo. Last April, ADNOC announced its new, carbon-efficient Fujairah LNG plant moved to the design stage, with the project expected to produce 9.6 million tons per year of LNG to help meet the growing global demand for natural gas. The design stage is expected to be followed by the award of an engineering, procurement and construction contract in 2023.

Dave Ernsberger, Head of Market Reporting & Trading Solutions, S&P Global Commodity Insights, said: “Fujairah and the surrounding markets have continued to evolve and grow throughout the past few years, even as global markets have worked through their own transformations. FUJCON 2023 is an ideal moment for market participants from around the world to reconnect in the UAE, and bring together updates on the latest developments in the local markets, with their experiences of change in the global space. This is the right time to organize and prepare for opportunities and challenges that the coming months and years will bring.”

Note: For more information about FUJCON 2023, please visit www.fujcon.com

Photo credit: S&P Global Commodity Insights
Published:7 December, 2022

Methanol

China: Cosco Shipping and bp to explore collaboration in methanol bunker fuel

Duo signed a MoU in Shanghai to expand their scope of strategic cooperation into new areas including lubricant supply, methanol bunker fuel supply for bunkering and offshore wind supply chain.

Published

6 hours ago

December 11, 2023

Admin

China: Cosco Shipping and bp to explore collaboration into methanol bunker fuel

Cosco Shipping on Thursday (7 December) said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with bp to expand their scope of strategic cooperation into new areas on 5 December in Shanghai.

“This includes Castrol Marine lubricants and hydrocarbons transportation, offshore equipment as well as exploring collaboration opportunities in areas such as methanol supply for bunkering and offshore wind supply chain,” Cosco said.

“Together, both parties will further capitalize on the business advantages of both parties, enhance synergies, and achieve complementary advantages and common development.”

William Lin, bp Group Executive Vice President, and Lin Ji, Executive Vice President of COSCO SHIPPING, witnessed the signing. Simon Yang, bp Group Senior Vice President and bp China President, and Chen Wei, Deputy Head of the Operations Division of COSCO SHIPPING, signed the document on behalf of the two parties.

Cosco said bp has been operating in China since the early 1970s and is one of the leading foreign-invested companies in China’s energy industry.

“bp and Cosco Shipping have a longstanding history of cooperation, including the transportation of energy products, offshore equipment manufacturing services, and the supply of marine fuels and lubricants,” it added.

Photo credit: Cosco Shipping
Published: 11 December, 2023

Methanol

Maersk to deploy first large methanol-powered vessel on Asia-Europe trade lane in 2024

Ship will enter service on the AE7 string connecting Asia and Europe, which includes port calls in Shanghai and Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia, with Ningbo in China, being its first destination.

Published

7 hours ago

December 11, 2023

Admin

Maersk to deploy first large methanol-powered vessel on Asia-Europe trade lane in 2024

A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk) on Thursday (7 December) said it was about to launch the first of its 18 large methanol-enabled vessels currently on order.

On 9 February 2024, the ship will enter service on the AE7 string connecting Asia and Europe, which includes port calls in Shanghai, Tanjung Pelepas, Colombo and Hamburg, with Ningbo, China, being its first destination.

“The container vessel built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in South Korea has a nominal capacity of 16,000 containers (TEU) and is equipped with a dual-fuel engine enabling operations on methanol as well as biodiesel and conventional bunker fuel,” the firm said.

Maersk added it has secured sufficient green methanol to cover the vessel’s maiden voyage and continues to work diligently on 2024-25 sourcing solutions for its methanol-enabled vessel fleet.

“Deploying the first of our large methanol-enabled vessels on one of the world’s largest trade lanes, Asia - Europe, is a landmark in our journey towards our Net-Zero target. With the vessel’s capacity of 16,000 containers, this will make a significant impact in our customers’ efforts to decarbonise their supply chains, and we are looking forward to introducing more methanol-enabled vessels on this and other trades during 2024,” Karsten Kildahl Chief Commercial Officer at Maersk, said.

Ahead of its deployment, the vessel will be named at the shipyard in end January 2024. The following two sister vessels will be deployed in the first half of 2024 with naming events taking place in Yokohama, Japan, and Los Angeles, USA. Maersk said it was expected to take delivery of four additional sister vessels in the second half of 2024.

At the time of deployment of the first large vessel, it will be the only second container vessel in the world that can sail on green methanol, the first being the feeder vessel Laura Maersk which entered service in September this year.

Overview of Maersk vessels on order

Maersk has 24 container vessels on order
All vessels currently on order will be equipped with dual-fuel engines and will be able to operate on green methanol
12 of the vessels on order have a capacity of 16,000 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit containers)
6 of the vessels on order have a capacity of 17,000 TEU
6 of the vessels on order have a capacity of 9,000 TEU
Since 2021, Maersk has had a policy of only ordering new vessels able to operate on green fuels

About Maersk’s AE7 service string

The AE7 string connects Asia and Europe through the Suez Canal
The AE7 string has the following port calls: Ningbo, Shanghai, Nansha, Yantian (all China), Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Port Tangiers (Morocco), Felixstowe (UK), Hamburg (Germany), Antwerp (Belgium), London Gateway (UK), Le Havre (France), Port Tangiers, Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Jebel Ali (UAE)

Photo credit: A.P. Moller - Maersk
Published: 11 December, 2023

Retrofit

Alfa Laval to provide methanol fuel supply system for “Maersk Halifax” boxship

Alfa Laval will support A.P. Moller-Maersk with installation of FCM Methanol low-flashpoint fuel supply system on board the 15,000 TEU container vessel, which is scheduled to take place by mid-2024.

Published

7 hours ago

December 11, 2023

Admin

Alfa Laval to retrofit methanol fuel supply system on “Maersk Halifax” boxship

Alfa Laval on Thursday (7 December) said its fuel supply system FCM Methanol has been selected by Maersk for their methanol retrofit project to enable the container vessel Maersk Halifax to operate on methanol fuel.

The firm said the project stands as a significant achievement for both Alfa Laval and Maersk, underscoring the feasibility of retrofitting ships with the necessary equipment for methanol-based propulsion.

Alfa Laval will support A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk) with the installation of FCM Methanol low-flashpoint fuel supply system (LFSS) on board the 15,000 TEU Maersk Halifax. The retrofit is scheduled by mid-2024. This pioneering container vessel conversion will enable the vessel to sail on green methanol with dual-fuel capabilities.

“At Alfa Laval, we collaborate with the industry frontrunners in exploring and embracing innovative ways for decarbonization,” said Viktor Friberg, Head of Marine Separation & Fuel Supply Systems, Alfa Laval.

“The project with Maersk gives us a unique opportunity to take up a new challenge - retrofitting our equipment for methanol use, for the first time. We are immensely proud to extend our expertise to this innovative retrofit project.”

The project will involve adding a new fuel line for methanol alongside the traditional fuel line, respecting the existing space constraints and the tight time schedule. The retrofit of the FCM Methanol is a landmark project that requires advanced engineering and an understanding of the practical considerations of working with methanol.

“We have set an ambitious net-zero emissions target for 2040, and retrofitting of engines on our vessels to run on methanol is an important nut in our strategy. Retrofitting solutions to accommodate new fuel thereby enabling the engine to operate on methanol is a complex task that requires expertise, and we are happy to have Alfa Laval on board on this project,” said Ole Graa Jakobsen, Head of Fleet Technology, A.P. Moller-Maersk.

With over 80 ships contracted, Alfa Laval added it has the longest experience in methanol FSS installation and service since 2015. It is the only system that has been powering methanol-fuelled vessels so far, with over 450 000 hours of operations.

Photo credit: Alfa Laval
Published: 11 December, 2023