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Alternative Fuels

Maritime transport companies team up to study ammonia as viable bunker fuel option

Study aims to consider the broader spectrum of implications for many ship types and different operational requirements, including bunkering and port operations.

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Gas supply chain risk management firm Bureau Veritas on Tuesday (21 April) said a group of leading companies in maritime transportation have taken up the challenge of investigating the realities of using ammonia (NH3) as a marine fuel, with specific focus on addressing technical and safety challenges.

Ammonia is one of a number of options to be a marine fuel of the future. One of the key elements in the group’s approach is to look at the broader spectrum of implications for many ship types and different operational requirements, including bunkering and port operations, it says. 

The company noted a first step was to hold a hazard identification workshop (HAZID) to understand the risks involved with using ammonia as a marine fuel. This was held in February 2020 at MAN Energy Solutions’s office in Copenhagen. 

“Ammonia is a carrier for hydrogen which can be generated from renewable energy and ammonia storage and transportation can, in principle, be managed with established technologies,” said Panos Koutsourakis, Global Technology Leader for Sustainable Shipping at Bureau Veritas.

“But ammonia is both toxic and corrosive. We need to understand, if and how, the associated risks can be managed to merit further practical and commercial development – especially confirming the potential for stable combustion and NOx emissions. 

“Furthermore, potential availability is not yet assured. Sufficient availability of ‘green’ ammonia would require the scalable development of ‘Power-to-X’ technologies to provide the volumes necessary for shipping.”

In comparison with conventional heavy fuel oils, ammonia is less energy dense, can be liquefied at -33°C, and stored at atmospheric pressure for use as a marine fuel, explains Bureau Veritas.

Currently, aspects of using ammonia are not explicitly covered by the existing regulatory framework – notably IMO’s International Code of Safety for Ship Using Gases or Other Low-flashpoint Fuels (the IGF Code), and require specific attention, notes the company.

The group will perform detailed risk studies to assess the technical feasibility and specific safety risks of ammonia fueled ships with a view to considering its potential as a safe fuel for the decarbonization of shipping, it adds. 

The company says the HAZID workshop held at MAN’s offices in Copenhagen was the first of these studies.

It noted that the workshop was carried out to identify the safety and operational hazards associated with the use of ammonia as fuel for propulsion on a VLCC. 

The study led to the identification of practical safeguards and recommendations which should be considered in order to lower the risks to As Low as Reasonably Practicable (ALARP), said Bureau Veritas. 

It added that the study also covered: NH3 storage space and bunker stations, NH3 Fuel Treatment Room and HP Fuel Pump Room (combined), Engine Room (Gas-safe), Vent/Safety system lines and Vent Mast and ship’s operations.

Further studies planned by the group will include addressing operational hazards and looking more in-depth at conceptual designs based on different vessel types, it concludes. 

The companies participating in the group include:

Alfa Laval, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, Capital Ship Management Corp, C-Job Naval Architects, CMB, DFDS, ENGIE, Exmar, Gaslog LNG Services Ltd, Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT), MAN Energy Solutions, MOL, NYK, Samsung Heavy Industries, Shell International Trading and Shipping Company, Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF), Star Bulk, Stena Teknik and Stolt Tankers.


Photo credit: Bureau Veritas
Published: 23 April, 2020

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LNG Bunkering

Shell expands LNG bunkering footprint in Spain with Valencia

As one of the region’s key maritime hubs, the company said Valencia expands the options available to shipowners seeking LNG supply along major shipping routes.

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Shell expands LNG bunkering footprint in Spain with Valencia

British oil giant Shell on Thursday (13 August) said Valencia has joined its growing network of bunkering locations, making LNG available as a marine fuel.

The successful completion of the first LNG bunkering operation in Valencia marked an important milestone for Spain and further strengthened Shell’s LNG supply capabilities across the Mediterranean. 

In a video shared by the company, bunkering vessel Alice Consulich was shown supplying an undisclosed volume of LNG to the container ship MSC Sabrina.

“As one of the region’s key maritime hubs, Valencia expands the options available to shipowners seeking LNG supply along major shipping routes,” Shell said in a social media post. 

Shell said the achievement reflected the strong collaboration across the maritime value chain, including MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, the Port of Valencia and Fratelli Cosulich Group.

“We look forward to making more LNG bunker deliveries in Valencia and across the Mediterranean as LNG infrastructure and capabilities continue to expand,” the company said. 

 

Photo credit: Shell
Published: 14 August, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

Énestas and Power LNG join forces on Galveston bunkering

Énestas will provide capital, LNG transport and storage equipment, and downstream expertise to support Power LNG’s planned liquefaction and marine bunkering facility on Pelican Island.

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Stabilis Solutions enter 10-year LNG bunkering supply deal for Port of Galveston

Power LNG (Power LNG) and Mexico’s LNG infrastructure and downstream natural gas company Énestas on Wednesday (12 August) announced the execution of definitive agreements establishing a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of LNG infrastructure at the Port of Galveston.

Under the agreement, Énestas will provide capital, LNG transportation and storage equipment, and downstream operating expertise to support the development of the Harborside Terminal and Project Seawolf, Power LNG’s planned LNG liquefaction and marine bunkering facility on Pelican Island.

The partnership creates an immediate pathway to begin LNG distribution by truck while Project Seawolf is under development, supporting marine fueling, virtual pipeline customers, industrial users, and LNG exports throughout the Gulf Coast, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

“Our vision has always been to establish Galveston as the premier LNG hub for the Gulf Coast,” said Austin Terry, Founder and CEO of Power LNG. 

“Énestas brings years of operational experience, proven LNG infrastructure, and a talented team that understands how to deliver LNG safely and efficiently. Together, we can immediately begin serving customers while laying the foundation for one of the most strategic LNG bunkering facilities in North America.”

Project Seawolf will provide LNG for marine bunkering, truck loading, virtual pipeline distribution, and international exports. The facility is strategically located at the Port of Galveston, serving one of the fastest-growing cruise, cargo, and energy corridors in the United States.

For Énestas, the transaction represented an important milestone in the company’s international growth strategy.

“This partnership represents a natural evolution for Énestas as we expand our downstream LNG business into the United States,” said Caio Zapata, Chief Executive Officer of Énestas. 

“For more than a decade, Énestas has developed and operated LNG infrastructure throughout Mexico, helping customers transition to cleaner, more reliable energy. Partnering with Power LNG allows us to leverage that experience in one of the most attractive LNG markets in North America. We see tremendous opportunities in marine bunkering, virtual pipeline logistics, industrial LNG supply, and exports to Latin America and the Caribbean, and we are excited to build that future together.”

The companies expect the partnership to support near-term LNG truck loading operations while advancing the long-term development of Project Seawolf, which is designed to become a regional hub for LNG production, marine fueling, and distribution.

The collaboration also establishes a platform to pursue additional downstream LNG opportunities throughout the Gulf Coast, utilising Énestas’ operational expertise together with Power LNG’s project development capabilities.

 

Photo credit: Port of Galveston
Published: 14 August, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

Stabilis delivers more than 150,000 cbm of LNG bunker fuel at Galveston

Company says the advancement of its proposed Stabilis Galveston LNG Facility is a natural progression of its established LNG bunkering footprint in Galveston.

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Stabilis delivers more than 150,000 cbm of LNG bunker fuel at Galveston

Clean energy production solutions provider Stabilis Solutions (Stabilis) on Thursday (13 August) said it has completed 97 LNG bunkering operations and delivered more than 150,000 m³ of LNG to customers in the Port of Galveston.

“As the only physical supplier of LNG on the Gulf Coast to reach this milestone, we’ve earned a reputation as a trusted, proven operator — both with local Galveston stakeholders and with the world’s largest cruise operator,” the company said in a social media post.

“That trust is reflected in the 10-year LNG offtake agreement we executed in December 2025.”

The company said the advancement of its proposed Stabilis Galveston LNG Facility is a natural progression of its established LNG bunkering footprint in Galveston. 

“As a Houston-based company, we believe in the Texas economy and the future growth of the Port of Galveston,” it added.

“That belief is why we’ve invested heavily over the past four years in the planning, permitting, and engineering design work to develop the most advanced, derisked, shovel-ready small-scale LNG liquefaction project on the Gulf Coast.”

Manifold Times previously reported Stabilis stating that the proposed Stabilis Galveston LNG Facility is anticipated to be in production by the third quarter of 2028.

It will come complete with the delivery of the first new-build, dedicated Jones Act-compliant LNG bunker barge in the Galveston/Houston area.

This comes following Stabilis receiving a Letter of Recommendation from the US Coast Guard following their formal review of the proposed Stabilis Galveston LNG Facility and associated waterfront LNG loading, marine transportation, and LNG bunkering operations in the Port of Galveston.

Related: Stabilis Solutions targets Q3 2028 launch for Galveston LNG bunkering facility
Related: Stabilis Solutions terminates 10-year LNG supply deal, expects delay in Galveston project

 

Photo credit: Stabilis Solutions
Published: 14 August, 2026

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