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Pilbara Clean Fuels receives preliminary results of studies on eLNG plant project in Port Hedland

Project is in response to anticipated demand of LNG bunker fuel supply at Port Hedland, thereby enabling large ore carrier to complete round-trip voyages to North Asia and back on a single bunker.
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Pilbara Clean Fuels Pty Ltd (PCF) on Friday (3 February) said it is pursuing development of an electrified liquefied natural gas (eLNG) plant in Port Hedland, Western Australia, principally for the production of marine bunker fuel.

The firm said it has received preliminary results from the pre-feasibility studies being conducted by Technip Energies and other contractors, and is currently targeting the end of March 2023 for completion of the first stage study phase.

Large Ore Carrier (LOC) vessels transport dry bulk product from Port Hedland mainly to China, South Korea and Japan. With the drive for international shipping to switch to lower emissions fuel alternatives, the use of LNG as a bunker fuel is increasing rapidly. However, LNG bunker fuel supply availability is a key element. The Project is in response to anticipated demand at Port Hedland, thereby enabling LOC’s to complete round-trip voyages to North Asia and back on a single bunker.

On 5 January 2023, PCF announced it had signed an exclusive MoU partnering with Oceania Marine Energy (OME), a firm developing a marine bunkering service capability based on the charter and operation of purpose-designed LNG bunker vessels. OME’s re-fuelling concept is ship-to-ship bunkering of LOC’s while at anchor off Port Hedland. 

By adopting an electrified plant concept and outsourcing its power supply from predominantly renewable sources, the design aims to minimise Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions. Another key feature is a ‘toll-processing’ business model. The Project proposes to convert third-party owned Western Australia sourced natural gas into marine fuel LNG under long term tolling contract arrangements.

The worldwide iron ore, steel-making and associated supply chain is under increasing pressure to reduce its overall lifecycle GHG emissions. The Project provides an attractive new Western Australia based capability to respond to one of the ‘hard to abate’ parts of the supply chain.

The Project can be seen as implementation of the Western Australian Government’s stated desire for LNG bunkering. A legitimate new use for relatively low-cost natural gas to add value to the State’s mineral resource exports as a result of substantial lowering of overall lifecycle GHG emissions compared to other minerals exporting locations.

PCF expects to be able to announce commercial progress of the Project once the result of the initial pre-feasibility work is finalized, leading to further engagement with State Government, Pilbara Ports Authority, international shipping industry representatives, investors and other stakeholders.

PCF Managing Director, Robert Malabar, said: “We are pleased to be able to report encouraging progress of the pre-feasibility study work, along with favourable interest in the project shown by the International Shipping Industry community. The project follows the industry precedent, already set, for the novel commercial model where a minerals exporter has arranged LNG bunkering for its chartered shipping, initially in an ‘off-route’ third country. The project provides the opportunity for similar but enhanced value as a result of a new ‘en-route’ LNG bunkering capability.”

Related: Oceania Marine Energy and Pilbara Clean Fuels sign MoU for LNG marine fuel bunkering
Related: Australia: McGowan Government advancing to establish LNG bunkering hub in Pilbara

 

Photo credit: Technip Energies
Published: 7 February, 2023

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LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

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PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. 

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post. 

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024. 

 

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure.
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CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) recently signed a contract with Sinopec (Beijing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd. to build a 12,000-cubic metre (m3) LNG bunkering vessel, according to Chinese maritime media.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028 and will support Sinopec’s efforts to expand its presence in the marine clean energy sector.

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s LNG bunkering infrastructure.

With this signing , CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering’s LNG bunkering vessel orderbook is further strengthened, maintaining its leading position in the global market for small and medium-sized LNG bunkering vessels.

The contract also marked another milestone for CIMC SOE, which has seen a sharp increase in orders and business performance this year amid a surge in domestic LNG vessel demand.

 

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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Nuclear

ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

KRISO says AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.
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ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO) on Thursday (16 July) received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its concept design of a 15,000 TEU Small Modular Reactor (SMR)-powered container ship utilising Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) technology.

KRISO said the AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.

“This achievement demonstrates international recognition of KRISO’s technological capabilities in the rapidly evolving field of nuclear-powered shipping, supporting the transition toward low-carbon maritime transport,” it said. 

Building on this milestone, KRISO will continue advancing basic and detailed ship design, paving the way for future demonstration and commercialisation of SMR-powered vessels. 

Through continued R&D and international collaboration, KRISO remains committed to strengthening next-generation maritime technologies and contributing to the safe deployment of nuclear propulsion in the maritime industry.

 

Photo credit: Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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