Alternative Fuels

KPI OceanConnect appoints Jesper Sørensen to run global Alternative Fuels and Carbon Markets team

Sørensen, who will lead a team of six experts, will direct KPI OceanConnect’s response to the energy transition from its office in Singapore, the world’s largest marine fuels market.

Published

1 year ago

September 8, 2023

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Global marine energy provider KPI OceanConnect on Thursday (7 September) announced the appointment of Jesper Sørensen to lead its Alternative Fuels and Carbon Markets team globally.

Sørensen will direct KPI OceanConnect’s response to the energy transition from its office in Singapore, the world’s largest marine fuels market.

Sørensen joined KPI OceanConnect in 2005 and worked as a Sales Manager in the company’s Singapore office before becoming its Managing Director. After four years in this managerial role, Sørensen will lead a team of six experts strategically located across the company’s global network of offices.

The Alternative Fuels and Carbon Markets team will provide consultancy across the group on alternative fuels, supporting traders as they work with their customers and partners to develop the long-term strategies that will be essential for their energy transition.

The Alternative Fuels and Carbon Markets team will be responsible for refining and delivering KPI OceanConnect’s green strategy, supporting the company to continuously innovate and share knowledge with the wider sector.

The team will identify and evaluate decarbonisation pathways, while ensuring a stable supply of alternative fuels to enable clients to meet their sustainability goals. As the marine energy sector undergoes significant change, with new fuels, regulations and standards all coming to the fore, KPI OceanConnect is, with this move, well positioned to provide trustworthy and transparent advice for its partners across the globe.

Building on KPI OceanConnect’s market-leading position in traditional fuels, Sørensen and his team will monitor the low-carbon and zero-carbon fuel options to provide knowledge and innovative solutions for change in the shipping industry to clients, partners and suppliers.

By doing so, KPI OceanConnect is empowering business partners at a time where they start to build green energy strategies to meet the International Maritime Organization’s decarbonisation targets by 2030 and 2050. This will include working closely with the group’s AuctionConnect team to integrate alternative fuels into the digital platform and continue to deliver alternative fuel solutions for clients across the globe.

Anders Grønborg, CEO at KPI OceanConnect, said: “I am excited to see one of KPI OceanConnect’s longest standing and most progressive team members take on a new and vital role in our business. Jesper is well known for applying his knowledge and passion in everything he does, which will no doubt be a huge advantage for all stakeholders as he leads the group’s efforts in this important area.”

“At KPI OceanConnect, we are dedicated to supporting the shipping industry’s green transition and continually monitor developments in the marine fuels industry to understand and educate our clients about the decarbonisation pathways available to them. As a leader in the marine fuels market, we recognise we have a responsibility to take an active role in advancing sustainability in the sector, and we continue to invest resources to support this.”

“Jesper brings vast experience of the marine fuels market to his new role, as well as a deep commitment to sustainability that is an important value for KPI OceanConnect as a leading global marine energy solutions provider. With his team delivering our alternative fuels strategy, we are shaping a cleaner and more prosperous future for the maritime industry.”

Jesper Sørensen, Global Head of Alternative Fuels and Carbon Markets at KPI OceanConnect, said: “To support our business partners, KPI OceanConnect intends to be at the forefront of the marine energy industry’s transition, now and in the coming years.”

“The Alternative Fuels and Carbon Markets team is focused on ensuring that through innovation and partnership, we can deliver the right solutions for our traders and their customers and suppliers. Ship-owners will be able to take verified action to minimize their environmental impact through responsible fuelling practices, GHG emissions reduction and transparency in the fuel supply chain.”

"Working with existing suppliers and those new to the industry, we continue to provide expertise on last mile delivery.”

Photo credit: KPI OceanConnect
Published: 8 September

Related Topics:Business - Employment Country/region - Asia (Singapore)

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LNG Bunkering

Singapore: MPA launches EOI to expand LNG bunkering services amid growing demand

MPA is seeking proposals to explore scalable solutions for sea-based LNG reloading to complement existing onshore LNG bunkering storage and jetty capacities and e/bio-methane supply as a marine fuel.

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December 13, 2024

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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has launched an Expression of Interest (EOI) to explore scalable solutions for sea-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) reloading to complement the existing onshore LNG bunkering storage and jetty capacities and the supply of e/bio-methane as marine fuel in the Port of Singapore.

MPA said LNG bunkering in Singapore has grown from 16,000 tonnes delivered in 2022 to over 385,000 tonnes delivered from January to October 2024.

According to the EOI, demand for LNG bunkering is expected to grow further with a growing global fleet of LNG dual-fuelled vessels and competitive LNG bunker prices.

“The EOI seeks to gather proposals on three areas: to scale up sea-based reloading operations, including ship-to-bunker barge LNG operations; to facilitate the supply of LNG alternatives such as liquefied bio-methane; and to develop floating platform concepts to enhance bunkering safety and efficiency,” MPA added.

“The EOI proposals should also include mitigation measures to address the issue of methane slip on a well-to-wake basis.”

Participants in the EOI do not need to be an existing LNG bunkering licensee. Participants are required to propose models for operationalising sea-based LNG reloading starting from 2025. Participants selected will be required to conduct trials in Singapore to validate the proposed solution’s operational feasibility and safety.

“Insights gained from the EOI and trials will inform MPA’s review of the LNG licensing framework, including enhancements to supply to better serve the industry’s bunkering needs,” it said.

Note: Interested parties can visit the MPA website for details and submission guidelines. Proposals must be submitted by 28 February 2025, 1pm (Singapore time).

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 13 December, 2024

LNG Bunkering

Wärtsilä wins LNG systems order for Vitol bunkering newbuild vessel

Firm will supply cargo Handling and Fuel Gas Supply systems for a new 12,500 m3 LNG bunkering vessel currently being built at Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering shipyard in China.

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December 13, 2024

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Wärtsilä wins LNG systems order for Vitol bunkering newbuild vessel

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, part of technology group Wärtsilä, on Friday (13 December) said it has won a contract to supply Cargo Handling and Fuel Gas Supply systems for a new 12,500 m3 LNG bunkering vessel.

The vessel is being built at the Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering shipyard in China, for global energy company Vitol.

“Wärtsilä’s ability to engineer, design and deliver a complete system, including the Boil-Off Gas (BOG) management, integrated fuel supply, custody transfer and bunkering transfer systems, was central to the contract award,” Wärtsilä said, adding the order was booked by the company in Q4, 2024.

Richie Zhu, Sales Manager, Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, China, said: “LNG is today an important marine fuel and is rapidly becoming the preferred choice for owners and operators seeking more sustainable fuel options. The market for LNG bunkering vessels is increasing in line with this trend, and we have established a leading position in supplying modern and reliable systems that optimise overall cargo handling efficiency for such vessels.”

Manifold Times previously reported Vitol securing three LNG Bunkering Vessels (LNGBV) through its shipping company, Vitol International Shipping Pte Ltd (VIS).

The vessels were secured via a seven to ten year time charter agreement with Avenir LNG Limited (Avenir) and an order for two vessels at the CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co. Ltd shipyard in Nantong, China.

The time charter agreement with Avenir is for one newbuild 20,000 m3 LNGBV. The time charter will commence at delivery from the shipyard in China in Q4 2026 and will serve a period of seven years with options to extend up to ten years in total.

Vitol also ordered one 12,500 m3 and one 20,000 m3 LNGBV at the CIMC SOE shipyard in China. The vessels will be delivered in Q4 2026 and Q3 2027 respectively.

Photo credit: Wärtsilä
Published: 13 December, 2024

Newbuilding

UECC deploys LNG dual-fuel newbuild “Blue Aspire” on key European route

Vessel is set to boost vessel capacity on its key European North-South trading network from mid-December this year after recent delivery from CIMC Raffles Offshore Engineering.

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2024

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UECC deploys LNG dual-fuel newbuild “Blue Aspire” on key European route

United European Car Carriers (UECC) on Wednesday (11 December) said it has further expanded its fleet of eco-friendly car carriers with the addition of the dual-fuel LNG newbuild Blue Aspire.

The vessel is set to boost vessel capacity on its key European North-South trading network from mid-December this year after recent delivery from a Chinese shipyard.

The 200-metre long Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC), delivered from CIMC Raffles Offshore Engineering, has capacity for nearly 7000 vehicles on 12 cargo decks.

UECC will operate the vessel together with another five vessels on a route between the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, traversing the Turkish ports of Yenikoy and Autoport, the German port of Cuxhaven, and Zeebrugge, Belgium every 4.5 days.

“Deployment of the Blue Aspire will boost tremendously capacity and sailing frequency on this busy trade route, currently serviced by five vessels, while further enhancing the sustainability of the UECC fleet,” said the company’s COO Per Christian Mørk.

The latest fleet addition will increase to six the number of UECC-operated vessels plying the North-South network, taking in a total of 10 ports on two routes, after the recent deployment of the renamed Auto Way that was acquired by UECC’s joint owner Wallenius Lines from Höegh Autoliners earlier this year.

It will also boost the size of UECC’s owned and chartered fleet to 15 PCTCs, including five dual and multi-fuel LNG vessels - three with battery hybrid capability - delivered in the past decade, with another two multi-fuel LNG newbuilds currently on order that are set for delivery in 2028 and options for two similar units.

“We are expanding our fleet with greater capacity and cargo-carrying flexibility to provide a more efficient service for clients in response to increasing demand as we see longer-term growth potential in this market,” Mørk explained.

Mørk said sustainability is now a key priority in procurement of maritime transport services to meet the environmental goals of vehicle manufacturers amid new green regulations - including FuelEU Maritime and the EU ETS - that provide a commercial incentive to reduce the cost of GHG emissions.

“UECC is catering to this market requirement with an eco-friendly fleet geared to minimizing the environmental footprint of vessel operations with progressive reductions in carbon intensity, in line with regulation, through adoption of energy-efficient technologies and alternative fuels,” he says.

Mørk noted that, while LNG can reduce emissions by around 25% compared with conventional fossil fuels, there is potential to greatly enhance environmental performance on LNG-fuelled vessels like Blue Aspire by switching to liquefied biomethane (LBM) that offers net-zero potential.

UECC is now increasing application of the latter fuel on its dual-fuel LNG PCTCs after recently securing an LBM supply agreement with Titan Clean Fuels that is forecast to cut its overall fleet emissions by 75,000 tons in 2025.

“The Blue Aspire therefore represents a valuable addition to the UECC fleet that underpins our market commitment to sustainability, while contributing to decarbonization of shipping,” Mørk concludes.

Photo credit: United European Car Carriers
Published: 13 December, 2024