Alternative Fuels

Pacific Environment: ‘Rescind support for LNG’, Port of Long Beach

Allowing fossil gas LNG bunkering at ports will inflict irreparable harm onto communities, health, and climate, said Dawny’all Heydari of Pacific Environment.

Published

2 years ago

February 20, 2023

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Environmental organisation Pacific Environment on Friday (17 February) has taken Port of Long Beach (POLB) to task after it proposed to expand permissibility for bunkering liquefied natural gas (LNG) at the port and has launched a campaign for the port to reject LNG.

The organisation said as part of its Port Master Plan Update, POLB is currently considering land use modifications that would allow for the development of new fossil gas stations (also known as bunkering) at the port – a decision that would harm our community and exacerbate our climate crisis by increasing fossil fuel pollution and emissions.

“The Port of Long Beach – comprising part of the largest port complex in the Western Hemisphere – proposed updates to its Port Master Plan that would expand permissibility for bunkering liquefied natural gas (LNG), a fossil fuel that is 85-95% methane. The port has also taken steps in other port planning processes to attempt to qualify LNG as a fuel that will help the port meet its goal of zero-emissions,” Pacific Environment in a statement to Manifold Times.

“If LNG bunkering facilities are built, the POLB would lock-in harmful air quality pollution and climate-disrupting emissions for decades to come — and put the entire Long Beach community at risk.”

Pacific Environment’s Ports for People campaign has launched a paid media campaign to challenge the fossil fuel industry’s greenwashing of LNG, to alert the public to the dangers of LNG, and to call on the Port of Long Beach to rescind its support for LNG.

“We launched a live petition calling on Long Beach leaders to reject LNG, and thus far received 440 signatures, including many students at Long Beach State University. Dawny’all Heydari, Climate Campaigner for Clean Ports Southern California for Pacific Environment, will be leading more than 60 canvassers over the next two weekends — on February 18 and 25 — to knock on up to 5,000 doors in Long Beach to educate and encourage citizens to get involved and to push back on LNG at the ports,” the organisation said.

“Allowing fossil gas LNG bunkering at our ports will inflict irreparable harm onto our communities, our health, and our climate,” said Dawny’all Heydari, Climate Campaigner for Clean Ports Southern California for Pacific Environment.

“We are urging Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, Harbor Commission President Sharon Weissman and Port Executive Director Mario Cordero to reject LNG at our ports and to focus on transitioning to a truly 100% zero-emission future for the port – before it’s too late. The city and the port have an urgent imperative to prioritise the health and long-term sustainability of our community and communities neighbouring the Port of Long Beach.”

The environmental advocates said in addition to warming our climate, LNG poses risks to public health and safety.

In 2021, the United States and the European Union announced a Global Methane Pledge to take voluntary actions to contribute to a collective effort to reduce global methane emissions at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030, which could eliminate over 0.2˚C warming by 2050.

“As a U.S. city with a major port, Long Beach must take the steps necessary to support our national commitment to this pledge. Allowing LNG bunkering at the port is a step in the wrong direction and will imperil our ability to reduce methane emissions globally,” it concluded.

Manifold Times previously reported POLB Board of Harbor Commissioners unanimously approved a climate policy known as the Zero Emissions, Energy Resilient Operations (ZEERO) Policy.

As part of its ZEERO policy, the Harbor Department committed to “endeavor in its activities” to “accelerate deployment of the lowest carbon emission alternatives for ocean going vessels through incentives and adequate availability of cleaner fuel bunkering facilities”, said Pacific Environment.

While ZEERO may appear promising on paper, POLB’s current policy regarding what constitutes a “clean shipping fuel” has included an alarming turn toward a fossil fuel, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and the ZEERO policy represents implicit approval for POLB move forward with permanent LNG bunkering facilities in Long Beach, it explained.

Photo credit: Port of Long Beach
Published: 20 February, 2023

LNG Bunkering

New MOL vessel to be supplied LNG bunker fuel in Japan before voyage to Australia

After departing from Saijo Shipyard, LNG fuel will be supplied directly to “Verde Heraldo” through shore-to-ship bunkering at Senboku Terminal of Osaka Gas, and is then scheduled to sail for Australia.

Published

8 hours ago

April 22, 2025

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New MOL vessel to be supplied LNG bunker fuel in Japan before voyage to Australia

Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) on Friday (18 April) said the naming and delivery ceremony for the LNG-fuelled Capesize bulker, which MOL ordered for JFE Steel Corporation, was held at the Saijo Shipyard of Imabari Shipbuilding.

The vessel was named the Verde Heraldo, which means “Green Pioneer” in Spanish, by JFE Steel President and CEO Masayuki Hirose. MOL executives including President & CEO Hashimoto were also on hand for the ceremony.

After departing from Saijo Shipyard, LNG fuel will be supplied directly to the vessel through shore-to-ship bunkering at the Senboku Terminal of Osaka Gas, and is then scheduled to sail for Australia.

The Verde Heraldo will sail under long-term transport contracts to supply raw materials for JFE Steel's mills, providing both reduced environmental impact and safe and reliable marine transport services.

About Verde Heraldo

LOA: 299.99 m
Breadth: 50.00 m
Draft: 18.436 m
Deadweight tonnage: 210,321 tonnes
Shipyards: Imabari Shipbuilding and Nihon Shipyard

Photo credit: Mitsui OSK Lines
Published: 22 April, 2025

Alternative Fuels

Indonesia and HDF Energy partner to study hydrogen solutions for maritime decarbonisation

Agreement between HDF Energy, Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation, PLN and ASDP outlined a joint study to decarbonise Indonesia’s maritime sector using locally produced green hydrogen.

Published

8 hours ago

April 22, 2025

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Indonesia and HDF Energy partner to study hydrogen solutions for maritime decarbonisation

PT HDF Energy Indonesia, a subsidiary of French hydrogen infrastructure developer HDF Energy, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation (MoT), state-owned electric utility PT PLN (Persero) and ferry operator PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero).

The agreement outlined a joint study to decarbonise Indonesia's maritime sector using locally produced green hydrogen. The study will be conducted in collaboration with, and co-funded by, the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The MoU was signed during the Global Hydrogen Ecosystem Summit on April 15, 2025 in Indonesia.

The study will focus on Eastern Indonesia, a region with plenty of sun and home to many of ASDP's strategic ferry routes. HDF Energy is currently developing 23 Renewstable® hydrogen power plants in the region. These facilities combine a solar park with substantial on-site energy storage in the form of green hydrogen to provide non-intermittent, stable and 100% clean electricity to the grid, day and night.

By generating surplus green hydrogen at a competitive marginal cost, Renewstable® plants also pave the way for the supply of green hydrogen to decarbonise maritime transport. The hydrogen produced will be used to power the high-power fuel cells developed and manufactured by HDF Energy in France, a modular, reliable solution tailored to the conversion of maritime fleets.

With this project, HDF Energy is deploying an integrated approach: producing competitive green hydrogen locally and offering a zero-emission maritime vessels' propulsion solution based on its fuel cells.

ASDP, which operates one of the world's largest ferry networks, plays a critical role in connecting Indonesia's remote islands. As a key player in the maritime sector's energy transition, the company will contribute to the study to identify opportunities for converting its fleet and port infrastructures. The aim is to replace traditional diesel engines with solutions based on green hydrogen and renewable electricity, in order to significantly reduce emissions.

PLN has already taken a proactive role in launching hydrogen pilot projects across the country. The company previously signed an MoU with HDF Energy to accelerate the deployment of Renewstable® hydrogen power plants as a green alternative to diesel-based power — a collaboration representing potential investments of up to USD 2.3 billion, supported by international development institutions including the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).

On the same occasion, HDF also signed an MoU with PT Pelayaran Bahtera Adhiguna (PT BAg), a national shipping company specialising in sea transportation services for primary energy distribution across Indonesia. The partnership reflects a joint commitment to assessing hydrogen as a clean alternative to power auxiliary systems on large vessels.

Mathieu Geze, HDF Energy's Director for APAC and President Director of PT HDF Energy Indonesia, stated: “We are proud to reaffirm our commitment to a Net Zero emission future through this strategic collaboration. Working together with PLN, ASDP, the Ministry of Transportation, and with PT Bag, we aim to place Indonesia at the forefront of green hydrogen innovation in the Asia-Pacific. Our fuel cells represent a decisive step forward in the decarbonization of maritime transport in the Indonesian archipelago, as well as a formidable showcase for French innovation on the international stage.”

On a regional scale, this partnership in Indonesia is part of HDF Energy's development drive in Southeast Asia.

On 11 April, in the Philippines, HDF signed a MoU with the Department of Transportation to harness green hydrogen—produced by HDF's Renewstable® power plants currently under development—to power the next generation of hydrogen-fuelled maritime vessels.

The following day in Vietnam, HDF entered into a strategic partnership with ACST, an organisation affiliated with the Ministry of Construction, to advance green hydrogen solutions, including the retrofitting of diesel ferries with HDF's hydrogen fuel cells.

Photo credit: HDF Energy
Published: 22 April, 2025

Biofuel

Argus Media: IMO incentive to shape bio-bunker choices

IMO proposal for ship owners who exceed emissions reduction targets to earn surplus credits will play a key role in biofuel bunkering options going forward.

Published

8 hours ago

April 22, 2025

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An International Maritime Organization (IMO) proposal for ship owners who exceed emissions reduction targets to earn surplus credits will play a key role in biofuel bunkering options going forward.

22 April 2025

The price of these credits will help determine whether B30 or B100 becomes the preferred bio-bunker fuel for vessels not powered by LNG or methanol. It will also influence whether biofuel adoption is accelerated or delayed beyond 2032.

At the conclusion of its meeting earlier this month the IMO proposed a dual-incentive mechanism to curb marine GHG emissions starting in 2028. The system combines penalties for non-compliance with financial incentives for over-compliance, aiming to shift ship owner behavior through both "stick" and "carrot" measures. As the "carrot", ship owners whose emissions fall below the IMO's stricter compliance target will receive surplus credits, which can be traded on the open market. The "stick" will introduce a two-tier penalty system. If emissions fall between the base and direct GHG emissions tiers, vessel operators will pay a fixed penalty of $100/t CO2-equivalent. Ship owners whose emissions exceed the looser, tier 2, base target will incur a penalty of $380/t CO2e. Both tiers tighten annually through 2035.

The overcompliance credits will be traded on the open market. It is unlikely that they will exceed the cost of the tier 2 penalty of $380/t CO2e. Argus modeled two surplus credit price scenarios — $70/t and $250/t CO2e — to assess their impact on bunker fuel economics. Assessments from 10-17 April showed Singapore very low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) at $481/t, Singapore B30 at $740/t, and Chinese used cooking oil methyl ester (Ucome), or B100, at $1,143/t (see charts).

If the outright prices remain flat, in both scenarios, VLSFO would incur tier 1 and tier 2 penalties, raising its effective cost to around $563/t in 2028. B30 in both scenarios would receive credits putting its price at $653/t and $715/t respectively. In the high surplus credit scenario, B100 would earn roughly $580/t in credits, bringing its net cost to about $563/t, on par with VLSFO, and more competitive than B30. In the low surplus credit scenario, B100 would earn just $162/t in credits, lowering its cost to approximately $980/t, well above VLSFO.

At these spot prices, and $250/t CO2e surplus credit, B100 would remain the cheapest fuel option through 2035. At $70/t CO2e surplus credit, B30 becomes cost-competitive with VLSFO only after 2032. Ultimately, the market value of IMO over-compliance credits will be a major factor in determining the timing and extent of global biofuel adoption in the marine sector.

By Stefka Wechsler