Alternative Fuels

Report: Maritime Green Corridors taking off – but essential stakeholders must not be left behind

As Green Shipping Corridors progress, some key industry stakeholders, especially cargo owners and bunker fuel producers, will need to be engaged as soon as possible.

Published

2 years ago

November 30, 2022

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UNCTAD Launch of the Review of Maritime Transport 2022

A new November report from the Global Maritime Forum, prepared on behalf of the Getting to Zero Coalition, assesses progress towards the development of Green Shipping Corridors – maritime routes between major port hubs where zero-emission solutions are supported and demonstrated – and finds that activity during 2022 exceeded expectations.

However as maritime Green Shipping Corridors progress towards implementation, some key industry stakeholders, especially cargo owners and bunker fuel producers, will need to be engaged as soon as possible.

From the public sector, policy support from national governments will need to embrace the challenge of closing the fuel cost gap between zero-emission and fossil fuels.

The 2022 Annual Progress Report on Green Shipping Corridors is launched in association with the first anniversary of the Clydebank Declaration, which has seen 24 countries express support for the creation of Green Shipping Corridors as a way to demonstrate and deploy the zero-emission solutions necessary for shipping’s transition to zero greenhouse gas emissions.

While most maritime Green Corridor initiatives remain in their infancy, the report looks at their potential, assesses progress, identifies challenges, and offers recommendations, in particular by advancing the commercial-scale deployment of zero-emission fuels, vessels and infrastructure on promising routes. Previous analysis has indicated that for shipping’s transition to get on track, 5% of fuels used on deep sea routes would need to be scalable, zero-emission fuels such as clean ammonia, methanol, or hydrogen.

Overall, the report documents a level of Green Corridor activity in 2022 that has exceeded expectations, with more than 20 initiatives and 110 stakeholders from all main shipping segments involved, active engagement from the government signatories of the Clydebank Declaration, and coverage of some of the most important deep-sea routes.
Most of these initiatives remain at a very early stage of development, with only a handful reaching the feasibility and planning stages so far.
So far, maritime Green Corridors are too shipping-centric, more needs to be done to involve cargo owners and producers of future fuels if important obstacles are to be overcome.
While governments have shown a promising amount of initiative in developing supportive policies, they will need to consider how to use national policy levers to close the fuel cost gap between zero-emission and fossil fuels.

The Global Maritime Forum’s Project Director for Decarbonization, Jesse Fahnestock, noted that the report, like the activity it covered, was about creating a baseline for future action.

“Green Corridors have captured the maritime sector’s imagination, and the number of initiatives that have been launched in one year is genuinely exciting,” Fahnestock said.

“These corridors are all at very early stages, but as they move towards implementation, this report can provide a platform for monitoring and sharing global progress. Already, the report has identified some key recommendations for accelerating action and improving impact.”

Note: The 2022 Annual Progress Report on Green Shipping Corridors report is available for download here.

Photo credit: Cameron Venti from Unsplash
Source: Global Maritime Forum
Published: 30 November, 2022

LNG Bunkering

Singapore: MPA launches EOI to expand LNG bunkering services amid growing demand

MPA is seeking proposals to explore scalable solutions for sea-based LNG reloading to complement existing onshore LNG bunkering storage and jetty capacities and e/bio-methane supply as a marine fuel.

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2024

Admin

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has launched an Expression of Interest (EOI) to explore scalable solutions for sea-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) reloading to complement the existing onshore LNG bunkering storage and jetty capacities and the supply of e/bio-methane as marine fuel in the Port of Singapore.

MPA said LNG bunkering in Singapore has grown from 16,000 tonnes delivered in 2022 to over 385,000 tonnes delivered from January to October 2024.

According to the EOI, demand for LNG bunkering is expected to grow further with a growing global fleet of LNG dual-fuelled vessels and competitive LNG bunker prices.

“The EOI seeks to gather proposals on three areas: to scale up sea-based reloading operations, including ship-to-bunker barge LNG operations; to facilitate the supply of LNG alternatives such as liquefied bio-methane; and to develop floating platform concepts to enhance bunkering safety and efficiency,” MPA added.

“The EOI proposals should also include mitigation measures to address the issue of methane slip on a well-to-wake basis.”

Participants in the EOI do not need to be an existing LNG bunkering licensee. Participants are required to propose models for operationalising sea-based LNG reloading starting from 2025. Participants selected will be required to conduct trials in Singapore to validate the proposed solution’s operational feasibility and safety.

“Insights gained from the EOI and trials will inform MPA’s review of the LNG licensing framework, including enhancements to supply to better serve the industry’s bunkering needs,” it said.

Note: Interested parties can visit the MPA website for details and submission guidelines. Proposals must be submitted by 28 February 2025, 1pm (Singapore time).

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 13 December, 2024

LNG Bunkering

Wärtsilä wins LNG systems order for Vitol bunkering newbuild vessel

Firm will supply cargo Handling and Fuel Gas Supply systems for a new 12,500 m3 LNG bunkering vessel currently being built at Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering shipyard in China.

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2024

Admin

Wärtsilä wins LNG systems order for Vitol bunkering newbuild vessel

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, part of technology group Wärtsilä, on Friday (13 December) said it has won a contract to supply Cargo Handling and Fuel Gas Supply systems for a new 12,500 m3 LNG bunkering vessel.

The vessel is being built at the Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering shipyard in China, for global energy company Vitol.

“Wärtsilä’s ability to engineer, design and deliver a complete system, including the Boil-Off Gas (BOG) management, integrated fuel supply, custody transfer and bunkering transfer systems, was central to the contract award,” Wärtsilä said, adding the order was booked by the company in Q4, 2024.

Richie Zhu, Sales Manager, Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, China, said: “LNG is today an important marine fuel and is rapidly becoming the preferred choice for owners and operators seeking more sustainable fuel options. The market for LNG bunkering vessels is increasing in line with this trend, and we have established a leading position in supplying modern and reliable systems that optimise overall cargo handling efficiency for such vessels.”

Manifold Times previously reported Vitol securing three LNG Bunkering Vessels (LNGBV) through its shipping company, Vitol International Shipping Pte Ltd (VIS).

The vessels were secured via a seven to ten year time charter agreement with Avenir LNG Limited (Avenir) and an order for two vessels at the CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co. Ltd shipyard in Nantong, China.

The time charter agreement with Avenir is for one newbuild 20,000 m3 LNGBV. The time charter will commence at delivery from the shipyard in China in Q4 2026 and will serve a period of seven years with options to extend up to ten years in total.

Vitol also ordered one 12,500 m3 and one 20,000 m3 LNGBV at the CIMC SOE shipyard in China. The vessels will be delivered in Q4 2026 and Q3 2027 respectively.

Photo credit: Wärtsilä
Published: 13 December, 2024

Newbuilding

UECC deploys LNG dual-fuel newbuild “Blue Aspire” on key European route

Vessel is set to boost vessel capacity on its key European North-South trading network from mid-December this year after recent delivery from CIMC Raffles Offshore Engineering.

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2024

Admin

UECC deploys LNG dual-fuel newbuild “Blue Aspire” on key European route

United European Car Carriers (UECC) on Wednesday (11 December) said it has further expanded its fleet of eco-friendly car carriers with the addition of the dual-fuel LNG newbuild Blue Aspire.

The vessel is set to boost vessel capacity on its key European North-South trading network from mid-December this year after recent delivery from a Chinese shipyard.

The 200-metre long Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC), delivered from CIMC Raffles Offshore Engineering, has capacity for nearly 7000 vehicles on 12 cargo decks.

UECC will operate the vessel together with another five vessels on a route between the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, traversing the Turkish ports of Yenikoy and Autoport, the German port of Cuxhaven, and Zeebrugge, Belgium every 4.5 days.

“Deployment of the Blue Aspire will boost tremendously capacity and sailing frequency on this busy trade route, currently serviced by five vessels, while further enhancing the sustainability of the UECC fleet,” said the company’s COO Per Christian Mørk.

The latest fleet addition will increase to six the number of UECC-operated vessels plying the North-South network, taking in a total of 10 ports on two routes, after the recent deployment of the renamed Auto Way that was acquired by UECC’s joint owner Wallenius Lines from Höegh Autoliners earlier this year.

It will also boost the size of UECC’s owned and chartered fleet to 15 PCTCs, including five dual and multi-fuel LNG vessels - three with battery hybrid capability - delivered in the past decade, with another two multi-fuel LNG newbuilds currently on order that are set for delivery in 2028 and options for two similar units.

“We are expanding our fleet with greater capacity and cargo-carrying flexibility to provide a more efficient service for clients in response to increasing demand as we see longer-term growth potential in this market,” Mørk explained.

Mørk said sustainability is now a key priority in procurement of maritime transport services to meet the environmental goals of vehicle manufacturers amid new green regulations - including FuelEU Maritime and the EU ETS - that provide a commercial incentive to reduce the cost of GHG emissions.

“UECC is catering to this market requirement with an eco-friendly fleet geared to minimizing the environmental footprint of vessel operations with progressive reductions in carbon intensity, in line with regulation, through adoption of energy-efficient technologies and alternative fuels,” he says.

Mørk noted that, while LNG can reduce emissions by around 25% compared with conventional fossil fuels, there is potential to greatly enhance environmental performance on LNG-fuelled vessels like Blue Aspire by switching to liquefied biomethane (LBM) that offers net-zero potential.

UECC is now increasing application of the latter fuel on its dual-fuel LNG PCTCs after recently securing an LBM supply agreement with Titan Clean Fuels that is forecast to cut its overall fleet emissions by 75,000 tons in 2025.

“The Blue Aspire therefore represents a valuable addition to the UECC fleet that underpins our market commitment to sustainability, while contributing to decarbonization of shipping,” Mørk concludes.

Photo credit: United European Car Carriers
Published: 13 December, 2024