Connect with us

Technology

Hong Kong: Environmental Department funds sniffer drone project

Drones to detect sulphur content of marine fuel may be deployed for operations by end of 2019.

Admin

Published

on

5c5294484e0f1 1548915784

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is researching the use of sniffer drones to track vessel emissions within its waters, reports South China Morning Post.

The university is involved in a HK$1.1 million (US $140,193) project funded by the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department to detect the sulphur content of marine fuel used by vessels entering Hong Kong.

Dr Zhi Ning of the university’s environment and sustainability division said the new technology takes between one to two minutes to measure the sulphur content from a vessel’s smoke plume, compared to days using traditional sampling methods.

The Environmental Protection Department is planning to start trials of the new sniffer drones in February and may deploy them for operations by end of 2019; it is unclear how many drones will be put in use.

Success of the project will also depend on approval from the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department for use of the drones.

“The Civil Aviation Department has strict laws on the use of UAS and we are awaiting their approval,” Lau said.

Hong Kong’s new Air Pollution Control (Fuel for Vessels) Regulation (Cap 311AB) requires ocean-going vessels (OGVs) using heavy fuel oil to switch to compliant fuel before entering Hong Kong waters from January 1, 2019.

Sniffer drones are also used by the Norwegian Maritime Authority for checking sulphur content in emissions from ships. 

Related: Hong Kong: 0.5% sulphur directive for marine fuel to take effect
RelatedHong Kong mulls stricter maritime air emissions regulation
Related: Norwegian Maritime Authority to spend $1.7 million on drones

Published: 31 January, 2019
 

Continue Reading

Alternative Fuels

Auramarine: Marine fuel flexibility will be key to shipping’s energy transition

Operators who adapt best will be the ones who built in the flexibility to their marine fuel strategy to respond as conditions change, says CEO John Bergman.

Admin

Published

on

By

31 1

Finland-based fuel supply systems provider Auramarine on Wednesday (2 September) said it believes shipping’s energy transition is entering a phase where flexibility, not fuel choice, will determine which operators adapt successfully. 

With fuel price volatility, inconsistent alternative availability and tightening environmental regulation at different speeds across regions, Auramarine argued that the right approach to fuel supply infrastructure is now as strategically important as the fuel itself.

“The industry has spent years asking which fuel will win,” said John Bergman, CEO, Auramarine. 

“That may be the wrong question. No operator today can predict with confidence what will be available, compliant or commercially viable in five years. The operators who adapt best will be the ones who built in the flexibility to their fuel strategy to respond as conditions change.”

Auramarine’s own fuel split technology, first delivered in 2019 and now installed on around 20 vessels, reflects this thinking in practice. The retrofit system adds a fuel booster module onboard, allowing a ship to run different fuels through the same engine without the extended changeover procedures dual-fuel systems typically require.

This lets operators switch to MGO or biofuel, for example, to meet an ECA requirement, support maintenance schedules, or respond to fuel pricing shifts, without taking a vessel out of service. Delivered in sections through existing doors and hatches, it can be retrofitted to vessels already in operation.

Bergman sees this need for adaptability sharpening in sectors under the most operational and regulatory pressure. 

“Cruise and ferry operators feel this earliest and most acutely,” he said. 

“These vessels constantly move between regulatory zones and environmentally sensitive waters, so the ability to switch fuel supply without disrupting a schedule is an operational necessity. What’s notable is how many operators in this space still don’t know infrastructure like this exists, despite how directly it addresses what they’re already dealing with.”

Reliable flexibility requires a tailored approach, not just adding equipment. “The best results come from scoping flexibility to an owner’s actual fuel strategy, not adding complexity for its own sake,” Bergman added. 

Automated fuel changeover systems are designed to keep multi-fuel operations straightforward for crews, while a structured maintenance approach ensures inspection, testing and servicing can be carried out safely throughout the vessel’s lifecycle. This is where Auramarine’s lifecycle services play a central role, supporting operators well beyond initial installation with the ongoing servicing, spares and technical support needed to keep flexible fuel systems performing reliably for the long term, whatever the fuel landscape looks like in years to come.

“Over the next few years, operators who succeed will be the ones who stopped waiting for certainty and started building optionality instead,” Bergman added

“In a transition this uncertain, adaptability matters more than any single fuel bet. That’s the conversation we want the industry to have.”

 

Photo credit: Auramarine
Published: 7 September, 2026

Continue Reading

Mass Flowmeter

TFG Marine advances global MFM rollout with two US Gulf bunker barges

“Buffalo B414” and “Buffalo B304”, were recently fitted with the equipment, with both supply barges receiving ISO 22192 certification for their newly installed MFMs last month.

Admin

Published

on

By

TFG Marine advances global MFM rollout with two US Gulf bunker barges

Global marine fuel supply and procurement firm TFG Marine on Wednesday (2 September) said it continued to expand mass flow meter (MFM) technology across its US Gulf Coast bunker fleet.

The company said two more vessels, Buffalo B414 and Buffalo B304, were recently fitted with the equipment.

“Both supply barges received ISO 22192 certification for their newly installed MFMs last month, giving customers greater confidence in bunker quantity measurement while supporting a more accurate, transparent and efficient delivery process,” TFG Marine said in a social media post. 

“This marks the latest step in TFG Marine’s ongoing investment in technology and best practice across its global bunkering operations, and forms part of a broader push by our North America team to help drive progress across the region’s bunkering industry.”

Last year, TFG Marine announced it reached a key milestone in its global digitalisation programme with the installation of an ISO 22192-compliant MFM on the Buffalo 404, a barge on time charter from American bunker barge company Buffalo Marine Service Inc.

This was the first ISO-certified MFM-equipped bunkering barge operating in the US Gulf.

The installation was part of TFG Marine’s wider strategy to equip close to 90% of its global bunkering fleet with MFMs by 2026 as a commitment towards improving data integrity, streamlining operations and strengthening trust in marine fuel transactions.

Related: TFG Marine installs first ISO-certified mass flow meter on US Gulf bunkering barge

 

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 4 September, 2026

Continue Reading

FuelEU

Ahti Climate and DNV connect verified emissions data to FuelEU pooling platform

New integration connects Ahti’s FuelEU pooling platform with DNV’s verification services, Veracity, helping customers reduce manual administration and streamline compliance.

Admin

Published

on

By

Ahti Climate brings DNV-verified emissions data into FuelEU pooling platform

Ahti Climate on Monday (31 August) announced a new integration with Veracity, DNV’s independent industry cloud platform, enabling shipowners and operators to seamlessly transfer DNV-verified emissions data into Ahti’s FuelEU pooling platform. 

The integration simplifies emissions reporting by connecting operational data verification with FuelEU compliance workflows, helping customers reduce manual administration, improve data quality and confidently meet regulatory requirements.

For customers such as shipping company Bore Ltd, the integration streamlines the flow of emissions data between verification and compliance systems. Raw fuel consumption data is automatically converted into the required OVD format and submitted for DNV verification through Veracity. Once verified, the emissions figures are securely shared with Ahti’s FuelEU pooling platform, creating a more efficient workflow with less manual administration and greater confidence in reported emissions data.

“Being on one of the surplus generators of the pool, trust in the data is everything for us – we need to know the numbers we’re selling hold up to scrutiny. With verified emissions data flowing straight from Veracity by DNV into the Ahti Pooling Platform, we no longer have to manually cross-check figures before every transaction. It gives us confidence that what we’re bringing to the pool is accurate, and that our partners can rely on it too,” said Marcus Strand ICT Manager at Bore Ltd. 

The integration enables customers to:

  • Reduce manual data entry and administrative workload
  • Improve data quality and reduce the risk of reporting errors
  • Securely exchange verified emissions data across systems and stakeholders
  • Increase transparency and confidence in compliance reporting
  • Connect commercial, operational and compliance workflows
  • Reduce turnaround times for reporting and voyage settlements

“Every partnership we build comes back to the same question: does this make compliance easier for shipowners? With Veracity by DNV, the answer is clearly yes – verified data, connected systems, and one less thing for our customers to worry about,” said Risto-Juhani Kariranta, CEO of Ahti Climate. 

With connectivity to the majority of the world fleet, Veracity’s trusted partner ecosystem, combined with Ahti’s expertise in FuelEU pooling, gives shipowners a more connected approach to emissions verification and compliance. By enabling verified data to flow securely between systems, the partnership helps customers reduce complexity and get greater value from their data and access a growing network of digital solutions.

 

Photo credit: Ahti Climate
Published: 1 September, 2026

Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS



Trending