Port & Regulatory

IMO MEPC 84th session to be held from 27 April to 1 May

MPEC 84 is expected to consider, for adoption, draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI and a Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships is expected to be established during the session.

Published

3 months ago

April 27, 2026

Admin

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently published highlights on what to expect at MEPC84, which includes some bunker-related topics:

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) will meet for its 84th session in person at IMO Headquarters in London (with remote participation enabled) from 27 April-1 May 2026. The meeting will be chaired by Dr. Harry Conway (Liberia), with Mr. Hanqiang Tan (Singapore) as Vice-Chair.

MEPC agenda highlights

Consideration and adoption of amendments to mandatory instruments – MARPOL Annex VI
Reduction of GHG emissions from ships
Harmful aquatic organisms in ballast water
Air pollution prevention
Energy efficiency of ships
Addressing marine plastic litter from ships /plastic pellets
Reduction of underwater radiated noise from shipping
Pollution prevention and response – other matters
New outputs proposed

Consideration and adoption of amendments to mandatory instruments – MARPOL Annex VI

The Committee will consider, for adoption, draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI:

Designation of the North-East Atlantic as an Emission Control Area for Nitrogen Oxides, Sulphur Oxides and Particulate Matter. Clarification of entries in data reporting required by regulations 27 and 28, under Appendix IX Information to be submitted to the IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Database (regulation 27) and making the IMO’s data collection system (IMO DCS) on ship fuel consumption more accessible to the public. The IMO DCS requires ships to record and report their fuel oil consumption, which is then used to calculate ships’ operational carbon intensity (CII).
Definitions and Appendix I Form of International Air Pollution Prevention (IAPP) Certificate, related to use of multiple engine operational profiles for a marine diesel engine, including clarifying engine test cycles.

Reduction of GHG emissions from ships

Discussions on IMO’s next set of regulatory measures under the IMO Net-Zero Framework were adjourned in October 2025 (MEPC/ES.2).

Discussions on the way forward in developing IMO’s mid-term GHG reduction measures, including addressing comments and concerns raised during MEPC/ES.2, will continue at MEPC 84, under Agenda Item 7 on Reduction of GHG emissions from ships. A total of 57 documents have been submitted for consideration under this agenda item.

A Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships is expected to be established during the session.

Discussions on options for the resumption of MEPC/ES.2, will be considered under agenda item 14 “Work programme of the Committee and subsidiary bodies”.

The Intersessional Working Group on the Reduction on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG) is scheduled to meet 20-24 April and will report to MEPC. The ISWG-GHG is expected to further develop guidelines to support implementation of various elements of the proposed IMO Net-Zero Framework without prejudging any future decision of the Committee on adoption of amendments on the IMO Net-Zero Framework and the timelines contained therein. The Group is also expected to further develop the life cycle assessment (LCA) framework and the draft terms of reference of the planned 5th IMO GHG Study.

Note: The full preview of MPEC 84 can be read here.

Photo credit: International Maritime Organization
Published: 27 April, 2026

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Engine

Japan’s first WinGD methanol dual-fuel marine engine passes FAT at MITSUI E&S

Company successfully completed the Factory Acceptance Test of the DU-WinGD 6X82DF-M-1.0 LP-SCR, the first methanol dual-fuel WinGD large marine engine built in Japan.

Published

3 hours ago

August 4, 2026

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MITSUI E&S completes FAT of Japan's first WinGD methanol dual-fuel engine

MITSUI E&S on Monday (3 August) announced that Mitsui E&S DU, a group company of MITSUI E&S, has successfully completed the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) of the DU-WinGD 6X82DF-M-1.0 LP-SCR, the first methanol dual-fuel WinGD large marine engine built in Japan.

The engine is also the first WinGD large marine engine manufactured at MITSUI E&S Tamano Works.

“The engine is scheduled to be installed on the first vessel in a series of four vessels being built for a domestic shipowner,” the company said on its website.

By utilising green methanol as fuel, it will contribute to a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping operations.

“To meet the expected increase in marine engine demand under the Japanese government’s Shipbuilding Industry Revitalisation Roadmap, the MITSUI E&S Group is working to enhance production efficiency for large marine engines through integrated operation at MITSUI E&S Tamano and Mitsui E&S DU Aioi,” the company added.

Photo credit: MITSUI E&S
Published: 4 August, 2026

Alternative Fuels

Quadrise and Licella amend JDA to advance low-carbon marine fuel testing

Companies have been collaborating since March 2025 on the use of Licella’s bio-oil produced by HTL technology as a potential cost-effective feedstock for Quadrise’s bioMSAR™ and bioMSAR Zero™ fuels.

Published

3 hours ago

August 4, 2026

Admin

Quadrise, a low emissions fuels and biofuel developer, recently announced an amendment to the Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Australian-based Licella Holdings (Licella).

Licella is a global technology pioneer delivering scalable, low-cost and high-value fossil replacement solutions. Its proprietary Cat-HTR™ hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL” technology efficiently converts abundant biomass residues and biowastes, including wood and agricultural waste, into high-quality, sustainable bio-oil that can be blended or refined into low-carbon liquid fuels.

“HTL is globally recognised as one of the most promising pathways for producing sustainable fuels for hard-to-abate sectors such as shipping, with organisations highlighting its potential to deliver low-carbon bio-oils at the scale the maritime sector requires,” Quadrise said.

Under the JDA entered into on 26 March 2025, Quadrise and Licella have been collaborating and seeking, inter alia, to progress the use of Licella’s bio-oil produced by HTL technology as a potential cost-effective feedstock for the Company’s bioMSAR™ and bioMSAR Zero™ fuels.

Under the JDA, pursuant to which lab testing has been undertaken in Australia and the UK, the parties have jointly developed a deeper understanding of the technological advancements needed to supply sustainable HTL-derived bio-oils to the maritime sector.

As a result, and prior to diesel engine testing, the Amended JDA now sets out a non-binding but more specific development focus, with an updated time schedule for the joint testing of the parties’ respective fuel technologies, with Licella providing the scalable HTL bio-oil production expertise and Quadrise providing maritime market access and fuel experience.

Upon successful completion of final lab tests on refined Licella HTL bio-oils in H2 2026, initial marine fuel diesel engine pilot tests are planned by the parties, after which Quadrise and Licella will seek to undertake the larger scale, third-party engine testing required to move to commercial vessel tests.

Photo credit: Scott Graham
Published: 4 August, 2026

Methanol

CMA CGM names new 15,000 TEU methanol-powered vessel “ROI ARTHUR”

Joining the company’s REX2 service, the ship will strengthen its fleet of new-generation vessels designed to support the decarbonisation of shipping.

Published

3 hours ago

August 4, 2026

Admin

French shipping giant CMA CGM on Monday (3 August) said its new 15,000 TEU methanol-powered vessel, CMA CGM ROI ARTHUR, has officially been named and is ready to begin its journey at sea.

Joining the company’s REX2 service, the ship will strengthen its fleet of new-generation vessels designed to support the decarbonisation of shipping.

“Powered by methanol, she contributes to reducing atmospheric emissions and advancing the energy transition of our industry,” the company said in a social media post.

The vessel was welcomed by her Master, Captain Roman DIDENKO, and her godmother, Ms. Sun Lijun, Vice Chairman of Tianjin Bridge Welding Materials Group Co., Ltd. and Vice President of the Tianjin Women Entrepreneurs Association.

In January, the company announced the arrival in its fleet of its 400th owned vessel, the CMA CGM MONTE CRISTO, the first in a series of six methanol container ships.

The Group is preparing to operate, by 2031, around 200 dual-fuel LNG and methanol container ships that can be powered with low-carbon energy.

Photo credit: CMA CGM
Published: 4 August, 2026