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Decarbonisation

Port of Melbourne and Svitzer to assess feasibility of electric tug deployment

Both inked a MoU to explore the deployment of next‑generation electric tugboats and the clean‑energy infrastructure required to operate them in Australia’s largest container port.

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Port of Melbourne and Svitzer to assess feasibility of electric tug deployment

Port of Melbourne and global towage operator Svitzer recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the deployment of next‑generation electric tugboats and the clean‑energy infrastructure required to operate them in Australia’s largest container port. 

The MoU was officiated at the Port of Melbourne Education Centre yesterday, in the presence of Their Majesties The King and Queen of Denmark as part of the Danish State Visit to Australia.

The partnership – which also includes Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and Plexar Energy – establishes a framework for collaboration to assess the feasibility of introducing two fully electric TRAnsverse 2600e tugs in Melbourne. The framework will also explore the feasibility of a dedicated renewable energy microgrid and high‑capacity charging infrastructure.

Port of Melbourne CEO, Saul Cannon, said the collaboration reflects a shared ambition to improve port efficiency while accelerating the sector’s transition to lower‑emissions operations.

“Efficient, reliable towage services are critical to the smooth functioning of the port, and electrification offers the potential to improve both operational performance and environmental outcomes.

Through this MoU, we are exploring what it would take to bring the next generation of electric towage to Melbourne in a way that benefits port users, reduces emissions, and supports a more sustainable future,” Cannon said.

The shift to electric towage has the potential to deliver a range of benefits for port users, including improved vessel handling performance, reduced noise and vibration, and greater predictability in operating costs. A dedicated renewable microgrid may also provide a resilient and efficient energy supply tailored to the specific operational requirements of tug services.

Svitzer Australia Managing Director, Videlina Georgieva, said the partnership with Port of Melbourne and CIP represents an important step in bringing the next generation of sustainable towage to Australia.

“Towage is critical to the performance of any port, and our biggest challenge for decarbonisation is reducing emissions without compromising safety, capability or reliability.

“At Svitzer, we are investing in the technologies that will help solve this challenge, and it is exciting to see Melbourne leading the way, through this collaboration, to make sustainable towage a working reality in Australia,” Georgieva said.

 

Photo credit: Port of Melbourne
Published: 25 March, 2026

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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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July 21, 2026

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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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July 21, 2026

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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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July 21, 2026

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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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