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Osaka Gas to launch ship-to-ship LNG bunkering business in Osaka Bay and Seto Inland Sea

Firm will sell and provide LNG, aimed to supply to LNG-fuelled ships using a bunkering vessel, which will carry LNG loaded at facilities located in Osaka Gas’ LNG terminals.

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Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (Osaka Gas) on Tuesday (27 June) announced the launch of a ship-to-ship LNG bunkering business, which is a first for the company, in the Osaka Bay and the Seto Inland Sea, planning to start the operation of an LNG bunkering vessel with a 1,500-tonne capacity in fiscal 2026. 

The commercial undertaking, in which Osaka Gas will sell and provide LNG, is aimed to supply LNG fuel to LNG-fuelled ships using a bunkering vessel, which will carry LNG loaded at the facilities located in Osaka Gas’ LNG terminals.

This bunkering business was adopted as a project eligible for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s LNG bunkering hub development programme for fiscal 2023 (subsidy programme). 

The bunkering vessel construction will be led by Osaka Bay LNG Shipping Co., Ltd. (OLS), a company jointly established by Osaka Gas International Transport Inc. (OGIT, Osaka Gas’ 100% subsidiary), NS United Coastal Tanker Kaisha, Ltd. (NSUT), and Kobe-Osaka International Port Corporation (HPC).

In this commercial enterprise, OLS will own the LNG bunkering vessel to be constructed under the subsidy program, NSUT, an established LNG coastal vessel operator, will manage and operate the vessel, and HPC will promote the business and LNG bunkering across the shipping industry in cooperation with the relevant government agencies, port administrator and officials.

An increasing number of LNG-fuelled vessels is expected to come into operation in the years to come due to the global trend of marine fuel decarbonisation. The International Maritime Organization has set a target of a 50% reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 from the 2008 level. Introducing e-methane, carbon neutral synthetic methane Osaka Gas is developing, to LNG- fuelled vessels will further accelerate the decarbonisation of bunker fuel.

The Daigas Group intends to expand the LNG bunkering business and achieve the commercialisation of e-methane and its application to bunkering, aiming to contribute to the lower carbon and decarbonised marine transportation industry.

 

Photo credit: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
Published: 3 July, 2023

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Newbuilding

Yang Ming names third 15,500 TEU LNG dual-fuel boxship in South Korea

Company held a naming ceremony at HD HHI shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, for “YM Wayfinder”, the third vessel in its series of LNG dual-fuel container vessels built by HD HHI.

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Yang Ming names third 15,500 TEU LNG dual-fuel boxship in South Korea

Taiwanese shipping firm Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation (Yang Ming) on Friday (26 June) said it held a naming ceremony at the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, for YM Wayfinder.

It is the third vessel in its series of 15,500 TEU-class LNG dual-fuel container vessels built by HD HHI. 

Mrs. Wei-Nung Kao, the spouse of Yang Ming’s Chairman, Mr. Feng-Ming Tsai, was invited as the Godmother to officially name the vessel and perform the ceremonial cord-cutting.

As additional LNG dual-fuel vessels join the fleet, Yang Ming will enhance operational efficiency, strengthen service competitiveness, and further reduce fleet carbon intensity to provide customers with low-carbon transportation services.

This series of vessels built by HD HHI has a length overall (LOA) of 364.97 metres, a breadth of 51 metres, and a capacity of approximately 15,600 TEU. 

In alignment with the global net-zero emissions target by 2050, Yang Ming has been actively expanding its energy-efficient fleet and is the first container shipping company in Taiwan to operate vessels utilising LNG as an alternative fuel. 

Equipped with high-pressure dual-fuel main engines that run on both LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil, this series of vessels primarily utilises LNG as fuel upon delivery, which immediately reduces greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 20% compared to conventional fuel oil. 

Two sister vessels in the LNG dual-fuel series, YM Willpower and YM Worthiness, are already in service and primarily operate on LNG. To date, the two vessels have bunkered more than 11,158 metric tonnes (mt) of LNG, which is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 12,532 mt.

YM Wayfinder is scheduled to commence service on the Asia-North Europe FE3 service on 1 July. 

The vessel’s deployment will enable Yang Ming to maximise slot utilization and enhance the competitiveness of its service network while fulfilling the company’s commitment to providing comprehensive, efficient, and energy-saving transportation services for customers. 

The comprehensive port rotation for the FE3 service is: Qingdao – Ningbo – Yantian – Singapore – Felixstowe – Antwerp – Hamburg.

 

Photo credit: Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation
Published: 29 June, 2026

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Ammonia

Pilbara Ports confirms plans for first ammonia bunkering trial in late 2026

This comes following Fortescue and CMB.TECH announcing their landmark agreement to introduce dual-fuelled ammonia bulk-carriers to the Pilbara.

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Pilbara Ports confirms plans for first ammonia bunkering trial in late 2026

Australia’s Pilbara Ports Authority on Friday (26 June) confirmed progress of its plans for the first ammonia bunkering trial at the Port of Port Hedland later this year.

On its website, the port authority said ammonia-fuelled vessels are expected to begin visiting Pilbara as early as this year. 

This comes following Fortescue and CMB.TECH announcing their landmark agreement to introduce dual-fuelled ammonia bulk-carriers to the Pilbara, a significant milestone in accelerating the transition to low-carbon shipping.

The port authority said the announcement reflects the growing global momentum behind ammonia as a marine fuel and the collective effort across industry to decarbonise supply chains. 

On 22 June, Fortescue said it signed an agreement with CMB.TECH for the charter of up to 12 ammonia-capable vessels.

Under the agreement, Fortescue will charter a fleet of 12 Newcastlemax dry bulk vessels (210,000 dwt) from Bocimar, CMB.TECH’s dry bulk shipping operator.

Up to three of the vessels will be delivered with dual-fuel ammonia engines and are expected to enter service by the end of 2026. The remaining nine vessels will be ammonia-ready and can be converted to operate on ammonia in the future.

“At Pilbara Ports, we’re proud to be supporting this transition, with plans progressing for our first ammonia refuelling trial at the Port of Port Hedland later this year,” the port authority said.

“This work will help ensure the Pilbara is ready – with the infrastructure, safety frameworks and operational capability needed to support the next generation of cleaner vessels.”

 

Photo credit: Pilbara Ports AuthorityPublished: 29 June, 2026

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Alternative Fuels

Evos Rotterdam starts construction on methanol and ethanol expansion project

Once operational in early 2028, the expansion will give Evos Rotterdam greater capacity to handle methanol and ethanol for industrial customers, as well as for low-carbon marine fuels and bunkering.

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Evos Rotterdam starts construction on methanol and ethanol expansion project

Evos Rotterdam on Thursday (25 June) said it has held the ground-breaking ceremony for its methanol and ethanol expansion project at the Port of Rotterdam, formally starting the construction phase of a major investment in additional terminal capacity.

The project comprises five new storage tanks with a combined gross capacity of 67,500 cubic metres, a new pump station and a new jetty, developed in close cooperation with the Port of Rotterdam. 

Once operational in early 2028, the expansion will give Evos Rotterdam greater capacity to handle methanol and ethanol for industrial customers, as well as for the developing market in cleaner, low-carbon marine fuels and bunkering.

Daan Vos, CEO of Evos, said: “This ground-breaking ceremony is the starting point for the construction phase of a project that has required close cooperation, technical focus and long-term commitment. 

“I would like to thank the Port of Rotterdam, our contractors and all project partners who joined us and who have helped bring the project to this stage. 

“This expansion strengthens Rotterdam’s position in methanol and ethanol logistics, including low-carbon methanol, and gives our customers the capacity they need as markets continue to change.”

Christiaan Kop, Managing Director Evos Rotterdam, said: “Thank you to everyone who joined us to officially start this project. It was a strong beginning for an excellent project. 

“I would also like to thank the project team for helping to organise the ceremony so well. The team has shown the professionalism and confidence this project deserves.”

 

Photo credit: Evos Rotterdam
Published: 29 June, 2026

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