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Pacific Green Technologies highlights LSFO as ‘GHG timebomb’

Points to several studies showing producing and burning LSFO increases carbon emissions, whereas gas scrubbers save money and the environment.
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Scrubber technology firm Pacific Green Technologies (PGT) on Thursday (10 February) published the following article outlining reasons why gas scrubbers are better for the environment than burning low sulphur fuel oil:

On 1 January 2020, the maritime industry changed tack.

To comply with IMO 2020, most of the world’s shipping fleet switched from high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) to low sulphur fuel oil (LSFO).

After decades of use, HSFO was effectively banned, though an exception was made for shipowners who chose to fit an exhaust gas cleaning system, or marine gas scrubber.

This last decision could have been one of the best the IMO made in the process of establishing new sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions targets.

Contrary to the hysteria calling for the total elimination of heavy fuel oil from the global marine energy mix, the combination of HSFO and a scrubber continues to gain credibility as the most environmentally sound response to satisfying new greenhouse gas (GHG) limitations.

The motivation for the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) new regulation was a need to lower the sulphur content of marine fuel to 0.5% or below.

But, as more scientific evidence emerges, it seems there may have been gaps in the IMO’s thinking. Perhaps insufficient consideration was given to the full environmental impact of burning LSFO.

Gas scrubbers are better for the environment

Low sulphur fuels contain lower levels of SOx and nitrogen oxides (NOx) than HSFO.

However, research recently submitted to the IMO by Germany and Finland confirms that the overall effect of burning LSFO is environmentally negative.

Very low sulphur fuel oil was only developed recently in order to create a fuel that would comply with the IMO’s 2020 SOx requirements. It has not had widespread use for a prolonged period of time.

It is not fully understood.

The Finnish/German paper details the results from controlled burnings of various marine fuels, and blended LSFO showed a marked increase in black carbon emissions.

Second only to CO2 in terms of the maritime industry’s contribution to climate change, black carbon is a dangerous greenhouse gas. It is responsible for 7% to 21% of shipping’s overall GHG equivalent impact.

Despite the IMO’s proposed commitment to reducing carbon emissions – the organization has set an ambitious target of halving maritime production of GHG by 2050 – the explosion in LSFO use could spell disaster for its air pollution negation strategy.

Environmental pressure groups have taken notice.

Dr Sian Prior, Lead Advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance, views the use of LSFO as a significant risk.

“If immediate action isn’t taken by the International Maritime Organization, the shipping industry’s use of VLSFO – introduced to comply with the 2020 sulphur cap – will lead to a massive increase in black carbon emissions, and this will both accelerate the melting of Arctic sea ice and have a major impact on Earth’s climate,”

Seas at Risk, a coalition of European NGOs focused on the protection of marine ecosystems, has also voiced alarm. John Maggs is a Senior Policy Advisor for the group:

“There are serious questions to be answered about how these blended super pollutant ‘Frankenstein’ fuels ever came to market, especially as the IMO has spent almost a decade considering how to reduce black carbon emissions from shipping.”

The recent study found that “new blends of marine fuels with 0.50% sulphur content can contain a large percentage of aromatic compounds which have a direct impact on black carbon emissions”, and “demonstrated that the combustion of fuels with higher aromatic content emits higher concentrations of black carbon.”

Thanks to the fuel price spreads, scrubbers save money too

When burnt, LSFO blends showed a 10% to 85% increase in black carbon emissions compared to heavy fuel oil, and between 67% to 145% increase when compared to marine-quality distillate fuel.

Distillate fuels, however, have their own questionable carbon record.

A study published last year by the independent Norwegian research organization, SINTEF, considered the full lifecycle of marine fuel production. It found that the global production of LSFO emits far more GHG than the production of HSFO.

In the report, SINTEF’S Chief Scientist, Dr Elizabeth Lindstad, concludes that, measured from well to wake, using HSFO with an exhaust gas cleaning system (marine gas scrubber) was the most environmentally beneficial way of meeting IMO 2020 requirements.

Her views are corroborated by the findings in Germany and Finland’s latest paper, which has been submitted for discussion at the next meeting of the IMO’s Sub-Committee On Pollution Prevention And Response (PPR7).

The submission includes a call to phase out fuels with high black carbon emissions.

Shipowners who have fitted their vessels with scrubbers may have a wry smile at this proposal.

They will be comfortable in the knowledge that, despite burning high sulphur fuel oil, their ships emit cleaner exhaust gases than the thousands of vessels using LSFO.

And, thanks to the fuel price spreads, they’re saving money too.


Photo credit: Cyprien Hauser
Published: 11 February, 2020

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Methanol

World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to “Arctic Tern” via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel “M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan”.
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July 22, 2026

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World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Marine fuel provider World Fuel on Tuesday (21 July) said it successfully completed the first green methanol bunkering of M/V Arctic Tern, with EUKOR Car Carriers and SIPG Energy at the Port of Shanghai. 

Arctic Tern is the first vessel in the new Shaper Class series of car carriers. 

The operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to Arctic Tern via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, the largest vessel of its kind in operation. 

The bunkering operation was carried out at Haitong Terminal, Waigaoqiao Port Area, Shanghai Port, with cargo handling operations conducted simultaneously during bunkering.

This marks EUKOR Car Carriers’ first green methanol operation and the first time Arctic Tern has bunkered methanol since its delivery on 9 July. The operation marked the first bunkering at Shanghai Port of green methanol produced locally in Shanghai for an international PCTC operator. 

It also demonstrated the city’s integrated green methanol value chain, spanning local production, storage and bunkering, and established a replicable “Shanghai Model” for green methanol supply.

World Fuel arranged the supply and delivery of the fuel on behalf of EUKOR Car Carriers, working with SIPG Energy as the physical supplier at the Port of Shanghai.

The green methanol supplied was produced from municipal solid waste, ISCC-EU certified, and had a carbon intensity value below 25 gCO₂e/MJ.

Arctic Tern is the first of fourteen Shaper Class vessels ordered by Wallenius Wilhelmsen. With a capacity of 9,300 car equivalent units and methanol dual-fuel capability, the vessel will be operated by EUKOR Car Carriers, jointly owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Hyundai Motor Group. Following her first green methanol bunkering, Arctic Tern will continue her maiden voyage from Asia to Europe.

Xavier Leroi, COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen and CEO of EUKOR Car Carriers, said: “Completing Arctic Tern’s first green methanol bunkering shortly after delivery is a significant milestone towards our decarbonisation ambition for both EUKOR Car Carriers and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. It demonstrates how investments in next-generation vessel technology and fuel flexibility are being translated into real-world operations. 

“This achievement reflects the strong collaboration between all parties involved. Together, we have shown how partnerships across the maritime value chain can help make lower-emission fuels available and operationally viable at scale.”

Mark Tamsitt, SVP Global Marine Sales at World Fuel, said, “The first bunkering event with a new fuel is a significant moment for any shipowner, and our role is to make it as seamless as possible. By connecting EUKOR Car Carriers with SIPG Energy’s proven green methanol capability at the Port of Shanghai, we were able to deliver on reliable supply, fuel quality, and safe processes. As more of our customers bring methanol dual-fuel tonnage into service, we are committed to being the partner that makes these kinds of operations routine.”

Mr. Zhang Da, General Manager of SIPG Energy, said, “Welcoming Arctic Tern to the Port of Shanghai for her first green methanol bunkering demonstrates the strength and maturity of our supply capability. Building on our well-established methanol ship-to-ship bunkering services for container vessels, we have already extended such services to pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs). This bunkering sets a new record for the largest single SIMOPs green methanol bunkering for PCTCs in China, marking another step in building Shanghai’s position as a global green energy hub for international shipping.”

This operation follows Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s announcement on 9 July that Arctic Tern would complete her first methanol bunkering shortly after delivery. The vessel entered service on routes between Asia and Europe immediately following handover from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing.

 

Photo credit: World Fuel
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Ammonia

HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

HPA says the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.
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July 22, 2026

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HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and integrated energy company MB Energy on Tuesday (21 July) said they have completed a comprehensive risk analysis and developed a dedicated safety concept for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering.

MB Energy said the analysis lays the groundwork for the safe introduction of ammonia as a future marine fuel.

“With our planned ammonia import terminal in Hamburg-Blumensand, MB Energy intends to provide the reliable land side supply infrastructure needed to support this transition across northern German ports,” it said in a social media post. 

Mabanaft Group was renamed to MB Energy last year and merged over 50 existing brands under one identity. 

Separately, HPA said the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

“The focus is in particular on container ships, cruise ships as well as RoRo and ConRo (Container/RoRo) ships,” it said. 

“We expect ammonia to establish itself as an alternative marine marine fuel in the coming years. With our preparatory work, we are already creating the conditions to welcome the first ammonia-powered ships in Hamburg and to bunker them safely.:

HPA added that the import terminal for ammonia planned by MB Energy from 2029 will make a decisive contribution to ensuring the reliable availability of ammonia as a bunker fuel in northern German ports in the long term. 

“The use of an ammonia bunker barge is considered a possible addition to the landside infrastructure to enable ship bunkering in the port and beyond in the future,” it said.

Related: Mabanaft Group renames as MB Energy, merging over 50 brands under one identity

 

Photo credit: Hamburg Port Authority
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Environment

Indonesia to expedite removal of sunken Malaysia-flagged tanker “Silver Sincere”

Vessel sank while carrying about 1,000 mt of waste oil on 12 January 2025; the wreck was discovered in March 2025 and was found to have drifted about 13 nautical miles from its original sinking site.

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July 20, 2026

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Indonesia to expedite removal of sunken Malaysia-flagged tanker “Silver Sincere”

Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs on Tuesday (14 July) held a cross-agency coordination meeting to expedite efforts in handling the Malaysian-flagged tanker Silver Sincere that sank off Bintan Regency, Riau Islands.

The vessel sank while carrying about 1,000 metric tonnes (mt) of waste oil on 12 January 2025. 

According to authorities, the ship sank within Indonesian waters. After several surveys, the wreck was finally discovered in March 2025 and it was found to have shifted approximately 13 nautical miles from the initial sinking location.

The meeting was aimed to align cross-ministerial and institutional measures to expedite the handling of the Silver Sincere wreck while minimising risks to shipping safety, the marine environment, and national interests.

Deputy for Coordination of State Defense and National Unity Purwito Hadi Wardhono emphasised that the handling of the impact of the Silver Sincere sinking was the first case to be comprehensively coordinated, serving as a model for handling foreign vessels sinking within Indonesian jurisdiction.

Through this cross-sectoral coordination, the government will establish a clear and measurable framework that can serve as a reference for resolving similar cases in the future, while minimising state losses due to environmental pollution, damage to underwater ecosystems and infrastructure, and disruption to shipping lanes.

“The most important thing is to immediately stop and prevent the negative impacts of this ship sinking,” Purwito said.

“Therefore, a coordinating role is crucial, as maritime security governance involves various ministries and institutions with varying authorities, allowing for faster, more integrated, and more effective response,” he said. 

He added that the Silver Sincere was a Malaysian-flagged vessel that sank within Indonesian jurisdiction, and therefore, all handling processes must comply with the provisions of Indonesian laws and regulations.

In the meeting, Prof. Eko Ganis Sukoharsono, representing the SAE Energy Consulting Team, presented the results of an analysis based on 14 observation periods using Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite imagery. 

The analysis results showed strong indications of a waste oil spill that has resulted in marine pollution, damage to the seabed due to shifting shipwrecks, disruption of coastal ecosystems and fishing grounds, and potentially threatening the livelihoods of fishing communities around the Riau Islands. 

Purwito added these findings further emphasise the importance of accelerating the removal of the shipwrecks to prevent widespread environmental impacts, maintain shipping safety, and avoid the potential for greater state losses.

The meeting brought together representatives of related ministries and institutions including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Ministry of Environment, Attorney General’s Office.  

Related: MPA: Malaysia-registered tanker “Silver Sincere” sinks off Pedra Branca

 

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Julian T
Published: 20 July, 2026

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