Alternative Fuels

ICCT report identifies six Brazilian ports as potential renewable marine fuel bunkering hubs

Three are public ports—Santos, Rio Grande, and Itaqui—and three are privately owned ports—Pecem, Navegantes, and Porto do Açu; Santos ranked high in four out of the five criteria assessed for readiness.

Published

1 year ago

June 12, 2025

Admin

A new report by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) on Thursday (5 June) has identified six Brazilian ports as candidate hubs for renewable marine fuel bunkering.

The report analysed the readiness of Brazilian ports to support the production, bunkering, and deployment of renewable hydrogen and its derivatives, such as renewable ammonia and renewable methanol, laying the groundwork for establishing green shipping corridors.

Three are public ports—Santos, Rio Grande, and Itaqui—and three are privately owned ports—Pecem, Navegantes, and Porto do Açu. Santos, the largest port in Latin America, ranked high in four out of the five criteria assessed for readiness, though it had only a moderate level of commitment to decarbonisation due to a lack of ongoing or planned offshore wind projects.

Porto do Açu and Itaqui scored high on all criteria except for access to potential offshore wind energy. Public ports generally scored higher than private ports, especially for their infrastructure, strategic location, and connectivity. On a scale of 1 to 5, the six candidates chosen for further assessment had weighted scores that ranged from 3.5 to 4.4.

Based on 2023 ship traffic, the report also identified 10 routes connecting the six candidates to both the domestic market and key international markets. Among the 10 sample routes moving key commodities, including iron ore and container cargo, between the candidate ports and ports around the world, the report estimated that five routes could be completed with direct use of renewable liquid hydrogen in a fuel cell without refuelling en route. The report found all routes could be completed without refuelling if ships use renewable hydrogen-derived ammonia and methanol in internal combustion engines.

To successfully complete all 10 routes, with at least one ship on each route, a total energy of 1,785 tonnes of hydrogen is required if the minimum consumption of renewable fuel is considered across all routes.

“Conversely, if we look at the maximum consumption of renewable fuel for all 10 routes, the total energy requirement is 1,911 tonnes. This translates to a demand for renewable electricity of 82 to 92 GWh,” the report said.

ICCT said the pre-feasibility assessment demonstrates the significant potential of Brazilian ports to serve as renewable marine fuel hubs, offering both economic and environmental benefits.

“By quantifying the potential bunkering demand and analysing port readiness, this study provides a guideline for future investments and policy initiatives aimed at accelerating the decarbonisation of maritime shipping,” it added.

Note: The full report titled ‘The potential of Brazilian ports as renewable marine fuel bunkering hubs’ can be found here.

Photo credit: Jeff Doria on Unsplash
Published: 12 June, 2025

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Venture Energy facilitates largest single green methanol bunkering op in Hong Kong

The Wah Kwong subsidiary recently facilitated the supply of 1,000 mt of green methanol by the bunkering barge “Da Qing 268” to RoRo vessel “CM Shenzhen”, belonging to CM RoRo, with Sinopec HK.

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July 13, 2026

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Venture Energy facilitates largest single green methanol bunkering op in Hong Kong

Hong Kong shipowner Wah Kwong Maritime Transport’s subsidiary, Venture Energy Limited (Venture Energy), on Friday (10 July) said it recently facilitated the largest single green methanol bunkering operation conducted in Hong Kong to date.

Bunkering barge Da Qing 268 supplied 1,000 metric tonnes (mt) of green methanol to RoRo vessel CM Shenzhen belonging to China Merchants Guangzhou RoRo Shipping Co., Ltd. (CM RoRo), with Sinopec (Hong Kong) Limited (Sinopec HK).

The operation utilised green methanol from Shanghai Shenji Energy & Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. (Shenji Energy), a subsidiary of Shenergy Group and Venture Energy Limited (Venture Energy) arranged the delivery.

“This milestone highlights Venture Energy’s supply capabilities to bridge growing demand in the Greater Bay Area with diversified supply sources across North and East China, contributing to the development of a reliable and scalable green marine fuel supply chain for the region,” the company said.

Through close collaboration with Sinopec HK and other industry partners, Venture Energy helped ensure the safe and efficient delivery of green methanol to Hong Kong’s bunkering market.

The successful operation further strengthens Hong Kong’s position as an international maritime centre and an emerging green fuel bunkering hub. It also demonstrates the Greater Bay Area’s potential to establish a competitive, integrated and sustainable marine fuel ecosystem covering production, logistics, storage, bunkering and end-use applications.

Venture Energy will continue to collaborate with strategic partners across the green fuel value chain to support future bunkering operations and contribute to the development of low-carbon maritime Solutions.

Photo credit: Venture Energy
Published: 13 July, 2026

Alternative Fuels

CMA CGM boxship completes first bio-LNG bunkering operation in Rotterdam

“CMA CGM NOTRE DAME” took on 11,125 cubic metres of bio-LNG in Rotterdam in a 12-hour operation.

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July 13, 2026

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CMA CGM completes first bio-LNG bunkering operation in Rotterdam

French shipping giant CMA CGM on Friday (10 July) said one of its LNG-powered containerships completed its first bio-LNG bunkering operation in Rotterdam.

CMA CGM NOTRE DAME took on 11,125 cubic metres (m3) of bio-LNG – a renewable fuel that delivers a 67% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over its full life cycle – produced in Europe from biomethane derived from agricultural and organic waste.

The operation was completed in 12 hours.

“At CMA CGM, we have been powering our vessels with LNG for several years, and our LNG-powered containerships are already compatible with bio-LNG,” it said.

Photo credit: CMA CGM
Published: 13 July, 2026

Alternative Fuels

Samskip container vessel become new demonstrator for HyShip project

HyShip project is entering a new phase as Samskip’s SeaShuttle container vessel becomes the project’s new demonstrator on the Oslo–Rotterdam route.

Published

23 hours ago

July 13, 2026

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Samskip container vessel become new demonstrator for HyShip project

Maritime CleanTech recently said the HyShip project is entering a new phase as Samskip’s SeaShuttle container vessel becomes the project’s new demonstrator on the Oslo–Rotterdam route.

The move gives HyShip a real-world application on a keyfreight route between Oslo and Rotterdam, linking liquid hydrogen innovation to vessels already under construction for commercial operation.

By integrating onboard hydrogen storage systems with quayside bunkering systems, the project tackles one of the key challenges in scaling hydrogen-powered shipping: connecting fuel supply and port infrastructure with vessel operations.

“This brings zero-emission freight transport one step closer to commercial deployment,” it said.

The company said connecting the ports of Oslo and Rotterdam, both part of the TEN-T network, is more than a project milestone.

“It demonstrates how Europe can turn policy into practice by linking zero-emission vessels, hydrogen supply and bunkering infrastructure along one of the continent’s key freight corridors,” it said.

It is exactly the kind of cross-border collaboration needed to accelerate the deployment of clean shipping, in line with the European Commission’s ambitions for the Trans-European Transport Network and the recently launched EU Ports Strategy.

As the project coordinator, Maritime CleanTech said it is proud to work with leading European partners to reduce risk, validate solutions and build the confidence needed to accelerate the deployment of hydrogen-powered shipping across Europe.

“We’re also pleased to welcome LH2 Shipping to the consortium. Their expertise in liquid hydrogen systems and bunkering solutions will further strengthen the project and help establish the infrastructure needed for future green shipping corridors,” it said.

With support from the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, HyShip is helping connect Europe through zero-emission shipping.

The consortium also includes Maritime CleanTech, LMG Marin France, sus.lab at ETH Zurich, DNV SE, PERSEE, NCSR Demokritos, University of Strathclyde, Wilh. Wilhelmsen Holding, DianaShipping Services S.A., and NAV-Tech.

Together, the partners bring expertise from across the hydrogen, maritime, research, and regulatory value chain to accelerate the development of practical, scalable solutions for liquid hydrogen shipping.

“The market needs projects that reduce uncertainty, align partners, and make future investment decisions easier. This collaboration is strategically important because it helps build confidence in liquid hydrogen as a viable fuel for shipping,” said Tore Boge, Head of EU Projects at Maritime CleanTech.

HyShip is a European innovation project supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, aimed at accelerating the use of liquid hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel for shipping.

Photo credit: Samskip
Published: 13 July, 2026