Alternative Fuels

MPA and MOL sign MoU to collaborate in alternative bunker fuels

Both will cooperate to establish a supply system for next-generation alternative bunker fuels such as methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen as well as wind technology, among others.

Published

5 days ago

November 27, 2024

Admin

MPA and MOL sign MoU to collaborate in alternative bunker fuels

Mitsui OSK Lines, Ltd. (MOL) on Tuesday (26 November) announced it signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to deepen cooperation in the fields of decarbonisation, digitalisation, and human resources development including alternative bunker fuels.

MOL and MPA have been cooperating in various initiatives to decarbonise the maritime industry, the new agreement will further promote these initiatives in a wide range of fields.

Specifically, the scope of the MoU covers the following:

Collaboration in the field of decarbonisation in the maritime industry in general.

Mutual collaboration to establish a supply system for next-generation alternative bunker fuels such as methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen. The collaboration will also include study on the use of wind technology.

Digitalisation and maritime innovation.

Improving voyage management and efficiency of transport operations through digitalisation, including development of cybersecurity, collaboration on autonomous vessel trials, and nurturing marine innovation ecosystem that emphasises collaboration with local startups.

Joint development of maritime human resources.

Grow and enhance manpower capabilities, including grooming seafarers and shore-based workforce.

MOL will continue its group-wide concerted effort, in close cooperation with MPA and other major maritime sectors, to achieve sustainable GHG net-zero emissions and contribute to the realisation of a decarbonised society.

MPA Chief Executive Teo Eng Dih, said: “This MoU reaffirms MPA and MOL’s longstanding collaboration. As a maritime hub port, supported by our innovation and research ecosystem, MPA is working closely with industry and tripartite partners to support digitalisation, cybersecurity, decarbonisation and manpower capabilities. We look forward to MOL’s expansion of activities, tapping on both our experience and expertise, to develop scalable solutions for the SingaporeJapan Green and Digital Shipping Corridor and the wider maritime community.”

MOL President & CEO Takeshi Hashimoto, said: “We have been focusing on the fields of decarbonisation, digitalisation, and human resources development, which we have decided to deepen cooperation with MPA this time.

MPA is committed to working hard to create a sustainable maritime industry in Singapore, the hub of the maritime industry. We pay our respect to MPA for its enthusiasm and energy. The fields of bilateral cooperation are also a challenge for the maritime industry as a whole, and I hope we can increase the feasibility by working together as like-minded people.

We are confident that the establishment of this comprehensive cooperative relationship will contribute to the maritime industry in general.”

MOL’s recent cooperation with MPA includes joining a MPA-led Green & Digital Shipping Corridors (GDSC) and joining MPA’s initiative in the Maritime Energy Training Facility (METF) to promote training for seafarers involved in next-generation fuel such as ammonia, which reduces carbon emissions.

Photo credit: Mitsui OSK Lines
Published: 27 November, 2024

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Biofuel

Singapore: GCMD introduces new technique for FAME bio bunker fuel fingerprinting

Fingerprinting identifies feedstock origins of FAME-based biofuels used in shipping industry; can be used as a potential tool to detect fraud in marine fuel supply chains and ensure biofuel authenticity.

Published

5 hours ago

December 2, 2024

Admin

Singapore: GCMD introduces new technique for FAME bio bunker fuel fingerprinting

The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) on Monday (2 December) released its latest report, presenting a new technique that creates a fingerprint for Fatty Acid Methyl Esters(FAME) bio bunker fuels.

This fingerprint identifies the feedstock origins of the FAME-based biofuels used in the shipping industry.

GCMD said FAME fingerprinting is needed as the shipping sector is increasingly using biofuels, such as FAME, to reduce its GHG emissions. With that, concerns have arisen regarding the legitimacy of biofuels and whether they are truly sustainable.

Industry bodies are seeing a rising number of cases mislabelling biofuels purported to be made from recycled oils and fats, while suspicions persist that they might be produced from cheaper and less sustainable virgin oils.

“To address these concerns, FAME fingerprinting can be used as a potential tool to detect fraud in marine fuel supply chains and ensure biofuel authenticity. By providing a physical validation method that complements existing certification schemes, FAME fingerprinting can help justify the green premium with genuine environmental benefits and safeguard the integrity of marine fuels supply chain,” GCMD said.

FAME fingerprinting is based on the principle that the fatty acid profile of FAME is unique to its feedstock and can be preserved during feedstock transesterification to produce FAME. The "fingerprint" can then be compared against a database of known fatty acid profiles to identify the feedstock origin.

GCMD worked with VPS who modified existing fuel testing methods to carry out sample analyses using a gas chromatograph with flame-ionisation detection, an instrument commonly found in fuel test laboratories.

The analysis takes about an hour, comparable to the turnaround time for current marine fuel quality testing in the supply chain.

“We have tested this method on a variety of FAME samples from different suppliers, including virgin oils, used cooking oils, palm oil mill effluent, beef tallow and food waste and were able to identify the feedstock origins for each sample,” GCMD added.

Manifold Times previously reported Captain Rahul Choudhuri, President, Strategic Partnerships at marine fuels testing company VPS, forecasting the use of finger printing technology today will likely establish a blueprint of how future alternative bunker fuels’ feedstocks are authenticated.

Captain Choudhuri said this when he gave an update of VPS’ biofuels finger printing trials with GCMD.

Note: The full report, titled ‘Rapid forensic analysis of FAME-based biofuels: Potential use of its fingerprint as a fraud detection tool’, can be downloaded here.

Photo credit: Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
Published: 2 December, 2024

Methanol

PLAGEN to produce and supply green methanol bunker fuel with Latvia plant

Korean firm’s MoU with AE Risinājumi will see construction of Latvia’s first commercial-scale green methanol production plant, which will supply green methanol to ships in EU’s maritime fleet.

Published

5 hours ago

December 2, 2024

Admin

PLAGEN to produce and supply green methanol bunker fuel with Latvia plant

South Korean clean energy firm PLAGEN on Friday (29 November) signed an MOU with Latvian company, AE Risinājumi, for the production of green methanol in Latvia at the “2024 Latvia-Korea Business Forum” hosted by the President of Latvia.

The agreement will result in the construction of Latvia's first commercial-scale green methanol production plant, which will supply green methanol to ships in the EU's maritime fleet, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transportation.

PLAGEN's MoU aims to produce 20,000 metric tonnes (mt) of green methanol per year and will begin feasibility studies in the first half of 2025, and full-scale production will begin in 2028.

With 53% of Latvia's land area covered by forests, timber production and wood processing make a significant contribution to Latvia’s economic production, which generates a large amount of forest residues and wood wastes. In addition, Latvia also has an abundance and low price of renewable electricity from wind power.

Latvia is one of the most competitive countries in the European Union, as it can produce clean methanol at a competitive price by using abundant wood waste as a raw material and renewable electricity from cheap wind power.

The use of abundant forest residues and wood wastes as a feedstock and cheap renewable electricity from wind power makes it possible to produce green methanol with a competitive price, making Latvia is one of the most competitive countries in the EU.

In the European Union, the European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) will come into effect in 2025, requiring shipping companies to purchase carbon credits for their greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition, the EU is implementing FuelEU Maritime, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2% below the 2020 average by 2025 and 80% by 2050. This is expected to result in an energy transition to green methanol.

In July 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a revised strategy that calls for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships to net-zero by or around 2050, and plans to introduce full-scale regulations from 2027, and shipping companies have begun ordering methanol-powered ships fueled by green methanol, a carbon-neutral fuel.

“We expect to start producing green methanol in Latvia in 2028, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from EU maritime transport vessels and contribute significantly to the revitalization of the Latvian economy and national energy security,” said John Kyung, CEO of PLAGEN.

In November 2024, PLAGEN completed the purchase of an industrial complex and received a government permit for the construction of the country's first green methanol plant in Dongjeom Industrial Complex in Taebaek City, Gangwon-do.

The project, which will produce 10,000 mt per year, is scheduled to begin construction in the first half of 2025 and begin production in the second half of 2027.

Photo credit: PLAGEN
Published: 2 December, 2024

LNG Bunkering

Molgas commences LNG bunkering operations in United Kingdom

Firm successfully completed the first LNG bunkering of “MV Glen Sannox” since the ship was handed over to CalMac Ferries Limited last week.

Published

6 hours ago

December 2, 2024

Admin

Molgas commences LNG bunkering operations in United Kingdom

Molgas Group on Friday (29 November) said it successfully completed the first LNG bunkering of the MV Glen Sannox since the ship was handed over to CalMac Ferries Limited last week, marking its entry into the United Kingdom.

“We would like to thank CalMac Ferries Limited and Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Limited for their trust and long-term collaboration,” the firm said in a social media post.

“This project not only represents a significant step forward in the adoption of cleaner fuels in the maritime industry of the United Kingdom but also for the expansion of our Pan-European Supply Network for the Marine Segment to receive (bio)LNG via various supply assets across multiple countries and ports.”

Photo credit: Molgas Group
Published: 2 December, 2024