Connect with us

Decarbonisation

HD Hyundai, DNV and TUI Cruises team up on fuel cell technology for cruise ships

Trio signed a JDP to explore the application of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell systems on cruise vessels; HD Hyundai plans to secure global competitiveness for SOFC technology with a focus on European market.

Admin

Published

on

HD Hyundai, DNV and TUI Cruises team up on fuel cell technology for cruise ships

South Korean shipbuilding giant HD Hyundai on Thursday (19 June) said that its affiliates—HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, HD Europe Research & Development Center, and HD Hydrogen— recently signed a Joint Development Project (JDP) agreement with classification society DNV, and German cruise operator TUI Cruises.

The project aims to explore the application of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) systems on cruise vessels.

SOFC is a high-efficiency fuel cell that generates electricity by reacting hydrogen—extracted from sources such as natural gas or ammonia—with oxygen. Since it produces electricity without combustion, it significantly reduces carbon and pollutant emissions. 

Compared to conventional engine-based power generation systems, SOFC offers superior efficiency, achieving both environmental sustainability and economic viability. It produces a low level of noise and vibration while providing high power generation efficiency, making it especially suitable for cruise ships that require large amounts of electricity.

HD Hyundai plans to secure global competitiveness by developing SOFC technology applicable to cruise ships, with a focus on the European market—where environmental regulations are stringent and demand for such vessels is high.

The market outlook is also promising. According to global market research firm Grand View Research, the global SOFC market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40.7% through 2030, reaching approximately USD 7.12 billion (KRW 9.81 trillion), driven by increasing demand and investment in clean energy.

As a first step, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and the HD Europe Research & Development Center will establish safety design standards for applying SOFC systems to cruise ships over an eight-month period from June this year to February next year. 

HD Hydrogen, an affiliate of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering specialising in hydrogen fuel cell technology, will analyse the performance of its proprietary SOFC systems under various operating conditions based on its core technical data.

In addition, HD Hyundai will develop technologies to recover and reuse waste heat generated by SOFC systems, which operate at high temperatures ranging from 600°C to 1,000°C. The company also plans to explore solutions to partially reduce carbon emissions from SOFC systems by leveraging carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.

As part of the project, DNV will support regulatory compliance and contribute to overall safety from the initial design onward. TUI Cruises will provide cruise ship specific data relevant to SOFC application, along with installation requirements and operational specifications necessary for actual deployment.

A representative from HD Hyundai stated, “This international joint development project marks a significant milestone in demonstrating HD Hyundai’s world-class decarbonization technology for ships in the European market. We hope to lead the maritime decarbonization initiative through our low-carbon, high-efficiency fuel cell technology.”

Meanwhile, HD Hyundai established HD Hydrogen last year as part of its effort to enter the hydrogen fuel cell market. The company is currently collaborating with various global shipping companies to expand the application of SOFC systems across multiple types of vessels.

 

Photo credit: HD Hyundai
Published: 23 June, 2025

Continue Reading

Port & Regulatory

China sees rapid growth in new-energy, clean-energy vessels for domestic market

Country has over 600 LNG vessels, primarily used for inland cargo transport, and 485 battery-powered electric vessels, mostly serving as passenger ferries.

Admin

Published

on

By

Vice Transport Minister Fu Xuyin MT

China is accelerating its shift to use greener bunker fuels in inland water transport, with more than 1,000 vessels powered by new energy or clean energy now operating nationwide, according to the Ministry of Transport.

As of the end of 2024, the country had over 600 liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels, primarily used for inland cargo transport, and 485 battery-powered electric vessels, mostly serving as passenger ferries, Vice Transport Minister Fu Xuyin told a press conference on 27 June.

A smaller number of inland vessels powered by methanol or hydrogen fuel cells are also in use, Fu added.

China’s electric vessel industry has developed rapidly in recent years, leading globally in both scale and technological advancement, he said.

Alongside upgrading vessels, China is accelerating efforts to develop green, low-carbon ports, and this includes expanding and renovating inland port terminals with a focus on sustainability, Fu noted.

China is also developing near-zero-carbon inland terminals, encouraging the use of wind and solar power at ports, promoting the use of new energy and clean energy in port machinery and on-site transport vehicles, and prioritizing rail and new-energy trucks for bulk cargo handling, he added.

 

Photo credit: Xu Xiang/China State Council Information Office
Published: 8 July 2025

Continue Reading

Biofuel

Chimbusco Pan Nation bio bunker fuel supply volume in H1 2025 surpasses 2024 total

Company supplied over 78,000 metric tonnes of marine biofuel in Hong Kong in the first six months of 2025, surpassing its total biofuel supply for the whole of 2024.

Admin

Published

on

By

Chimbusco Pan Nation bio bunker fuel supply volume in H1 2025 surpasses 2024 total

Hong Kong-based marine fuel oil supplier Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical (CPN) on Friday (4 July) said it has supplied over 78,000 metric tonnes (mt) of marine biofuel in Hong Kong in the first six months of 2025.

As such, the company said its biofuel volume for the first half of the year exceeded its total biofuel supply for the whole of 2024. 

“This record-breaking achievement highlights our commitment to sustainability and innovation in the maritime industry,” the company said in a social media post. 

“From January to June 2025, our team surpassed last year’s total, proving that dedication and excellence knows no limits—and exceeded 2024 by 80%!”

Manifold Times previously reported CPN setting a record for China’s largest B24 marine biofuel bunkering operation.

CPN delivered 6,300 mt of B24-VLSFO in Hong Kong to container ship XIN LOS ANGELES on 15 May. The supply exceeded CPN’s previous record of 5,500 mt delivered to the same ship in February 2025.

In April, the company also commenced supply of B30 biofuel in Hong Kong. 

Related: Hong Kong: CPN hits new record for China’s largest B24 biofuel bunkering operation
Related: CPN achieves largest B24 bio bunker fuel delivery in Hong Kong and China
Related: Chimbusco Pan Nation launches B30 bio bunker fuel supply in Hong Hong

 

Photo credit: Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical
Published: 7 July, 2025

Continue Reading

Bunker Fuel

Titan adopts FuelBoss by Ofiniti for digital bunkering and live delivery insights

Per-Christian Dettwiler, CPO of Titan, says the firm has reached a scale where manual coordination and paper-driven workflows are no longer sustainable and needed a digital platform that can evolve with it.

Admin

Published

on

By

Titan adopts FuelBoss by Ofiniti for digital bunkering and live delivery insights

Ofiniti, a provider of digital solutions for maritime bunker operations, on Thursday (3 July) said LNG bunker fuel supplier Titan Clean Fuels (Titan) is adopting its FuelBoss platform to meet higher demand for cleaner marine fuels and offer digitalised bunker operations. 

Ofiniti said Titan, which started as a small-scale LNG bunkering initiative, has rapidly evolved into a larger regional player in LNG and bio-LNG. 

“Confidence is continuing to grow in the sector, with recent reports showing that LNG accounts for 87 of the 151 alternative-fuelled vessels ordered in H1 of 2025,” the company said in a social media post. 

Subsequently, Titan is bolstering its capacity to handle higher demand with the FuelBoss software providing a digital backbone for increasing operational planning, scheduling and execution.

“We have reached a scale where manual coordination and paper-driven workflows are no longer sustainable. To maintain reliability, efficiency, and transparency across our growing operations, we needed a digital platform that can evolve with us. FuelBoss gives us the structure and visibility to execute consistently – no matter the vessel, port, or partner involved,” said Per-Christian Dettwiler, Chief Operating Officer of Titan.

FuelBoss enables real-time delivery coordination between vessels, suppliers, terminals, surveyors, and customers. This means reduced operational friction, more transparent communication, and the ability to meet the rising expectations of a broad customer base from cruise operators to deep-sea cargo fleets. 

“Titan exemplifies what a future-ready marine fuel supplier looks like: fast-growing, ambitious, and uncompromising on service quality. With clients spanning both regulated and high-performance environments, they expect structured, digital workflows by default, with eBDN being a part of this. We’re proud to support Titan on their mission to scale clean fuel delivery with confidence,” said Martin Christian Wold, VP Business Development of Ofiniti.

 

Photo credit: Ofiniti
Published: 7 July, 2025

Continue Reading

Trending