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Alternative Fuels

Hapag-Lloyd increases amount of bunkered biofuel blend to 213,000 mt in 2023

Firm consumed 120,500 mt of biofuel in the previous year and has planned a pilot bunkering programme with biomethane in Singapore this year, according to its Sustainability Report 2023.

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Hapag-Lloyd increases amount of bunkered biofuel blend to 213,000 mt in 2023

German container shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd on Tuesday (19 March) said it increased the volume of biofuel during the reporting period to around 213,000 metric tonnes (mt) of bunkered biofuel blend in 2023.

According to its Sustainability Report 2023, the firm consumed 120,500 mt of biofuel in the previous year. This has helped Hapag-Lloyd reduce the absolute greenhouse gas emissions of its fleet by 0.8 million tonnes in 2023 compared to the previous year. 

The firm said it has increasingly been using biofuels since 2022 in order to achieve its emission reduction targets. 

“Our objective here is to obtain these fuels using sustainable raw materials such as used cooking oil – from which fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) is manufactured – that is mixed with fossil VLSFO2 in varying proportions. Greenhouse gas emissions from biofuels are over 80% lower compared to standard fuels,” it noted in the report. 

During the reporting period, 45 vessels in the fleet were refuelled with biofuel. 

This occurred mostly in Rotterdam, but also increasingly in Singa- pore, and, for the first time, in Genoa, Barcelona and Jebel Ali. In Antwerp, ultra low sulphur biofuel was also used for the first time instead of very low sulphur biofuel, which has been typically used up until now. 

Hapag-Lloyd also noted that there was still no ISO standard for biofuels. The new ISO standard is expected in 2024. 

“However, the availability of biofuels has improved significantly in the meantime. Other bunker ports are being examined, including in South Korea, West Africa, South Europe and on the west ​​coast of the USA,” it said.

“Volume contracts have been concluded with major biofuel suppliers to create security of supply.”

Although the firm sees fossil LNG primarily as a bridging fuel, it said propulsion technology using liquefied gas is viable for the future since LNG-powered vessels can also be operated with biological or synthetic methane as an alternative in the mid-term. 

“They then have the potential to be operated with greatly reduced emissions. We are currently keeping a close eye on relevant developments. In this context, Hapag-Lloyd is already working with potential producers of biological and synthetically produced methane,” it said. 

An initial project design for synthetic methane is currently in development.

“We expect to be able to bunker the first quantities from 2026. For the current year 2024, we have planned a pilot bunkering programme with biomethane.”

“When exactly it will be possible to use synthetic methane on our dual-fuel vessels is still unclear at the current time.”

“An advantage of synthetic methane is that methane slip during manufacture is a great deal less than with the production of fossil LNG. It can also be monitored more effectively.

To further promote the use of biomethane, the firm is  part of a consortium for a Green & Digital Corridor between Rotterdam and Singapore. The consortium aims to reduce CO2 emissions on this main trading route by 20% to 30% by 2030. 

Hapag-Lloyd is part of the biomethane track and is working towards a pilot bunkering programme in Singapore in 2024. 

Note: The full ‘Sustainability Report 2023’ can be viewed here. 

 

Photo credit: Hapag-Lloyd
Published: 21 March 2024

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LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

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July 21, 2026

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PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. 

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post. 

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024. 

 

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure.
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July 21, 2026

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CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) recently signed a contract with Sinopec (Beijing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd. to build a 12,000-cubic metre (m3) LNG bunkering vessel, according to Chinese maritime media.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028 and will support Sinopec’s efforts to expand its presence in the marine clean energy sector.

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s LNG bunkering infrastructure.

With this signing , CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering’s LNG bunkering vessel orderbook is further strengthened, maintaining its leading position in the global market for small and medium-sized LNG bunkering vessels.

The contract also marked another milestone for CIMC SOE, which has seen a sharp increase in orders and business performance this year amid a surge in domestic LNG vessel demand.

 

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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Nuclear

ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

KRISO says AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.
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July 21, 2026

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ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO) on Thursday (16 July) received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its concept design of a 15,000 TEU Small Modular Reactor (SMR)-powered container ship utilising Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) technology.

KRISO said the AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.

“This achievement demonstrates international recognition of KRISO’s technological capabilities in the rapidly evolving field of nuclear-powered shipping, supporting the transition toward low-carbon maritime transport,” it said. 

Building on this milestone, KRISO will continue advancing basic and detailed ship design, paving the way for future demonstration and commercialisation of SMR-powered vessels. 

Through continued R&D and international collaboration, KRISO remains committed to strengthening next-generation maritime technologies and contributing to the safe deployment of nuclear propulsion in the maritime industry.

 

Photo credit: Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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