Explora Journeys recently officially named EXPLORA III in Barcelona, welcoming the brand’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ship to the fleet. 

Following her early delivery in Genoa on 23 July 2026, EXPLORA III embarked on a journey through the Mediterranean before arriving in Barcelona for the official naming ceremony. 

“As the first LNG-powered vessel in the Explora Journeys fleet, EXPLORA III represents the next step in the brand’s investment in advanced marine technologies,” the company said on its website. 

Designed to operate on LNG today, the ship also offers a pathway towards renewable alternatives such as bio-LNG and synthetic LNG as these become increasingly available. 

The vessel is equipped with shore power capability, enabling connection to onshore electricity in ports where infrastructure exists, allowing engines to be switched off while alongside.

EXPLORA III departed on 3 August on its seven-night Maiden Journey to Lisbon.

Photo credit: Explora Journeys
Published: 5 August, 2026

Low-carbon fuel solutions provider Anew Climate on Tuesday (4 August) announced that it has joined SEA-LNG to boost the coalition’s work to reduce emissions across the global shipping industry by promoting the adoption of the methane decarbonisation pathway.

Majority-owned by TPG Rise, Anew delivers liquefied biomethane (LBM or Bio-LNG) for maritime decarbonisation across vital shipping hubs in North America, Europe, and Asia, reducing GHG emissions by up to 80% compared to marine diesel on a full well-to-wake basis.

Anew’s membership in SEA-LNG comes as liquefied biomethane adoption accelerates under regulations like FuelEU Maritime, which requires fleet operators to pool to meet GHG intensity targets. Liquefied biomethane use generates credits within this pooling mechanism, which operators can use directly for compliance or sell to other fleet operators. 

Liquefied biomethane leverages existing LNG infrastructure and is already bunkered at roughly 70 ports across Europe, the US, and parts of Asia. Some pathways can achieve negative carbon intensity by avoiding emissions, such as methane that would otherwise be released from waste streams.

Andy Brosnan, President of Low Carbon Fuels, Anew Climate, said: “Bio-LNG is one of the most practical and scalable tools available today to help the maritime sector reduce emissions and meet evolving regulatory requirements. We’re seeing growing momentum across global shipping as stakeholders turn decarbonisation commitments into action. Through SEA-LNG, we look forward to collaborating with industry leaders to accelerate the availability and adoption of Bio-LNG and support the industry’s transition to lower-carbon fuels.”

Steve Esau, COO of SEA-LNG, added: “Anew’s membership expands our North American footprint and supports the methane decarbonisation pathway’s global expansion. As a first mover in bringing liquefied biomethane to scale, Anew joins a roster of fuel producers with a proven track record, a presence in strategic shipping hubs, and a tangible impact on compliance and decarbonisation today.”

Headquartered in North America with additional operational hubs in Europe and Asia, Anew brings an international supply perspective to the coalition, with partnerships including Avenir LNG and Seaspan Energy. Its portfolio of low- and negative-carbon fuels broadens the scope of Bio-LNG supply available to the global LNG-fuelled fleet, the leading alternative-fuel choice, now accounting for almost 90% of all alternative-fuel vessels on order.

Photo credit: Venti Views on Unsplash
Published: 5 August, 2026

Once a week, bunker intelligence platform ENGINE will publish a snapshot of alternative and conventional bunker fuel prices in the world’s two biggest bunkering hubs. The following is the latest snapshot:

3 August 2026

• Rotterdam B100 premium over VLSFO narrows
• Dutch ZRE A price climbs by €25/mtCO2e
• B100 flips to discount to LSMGO in Singapore

Rotterdam’s B100 has remained at a premium over VLSFO for another week, although the spread has narrowed by $69/mt to $41/mt over the past week. Its discount to LSMGO has widened by $77/mt to $417/mt.

Singapore’s B100 has slipped to a $6/mt discount to LSMGO, from a $2/mt premium a week earlier.

Liquefied biomethane (LBM) in Rotterdam has regained its price advantage over VLSFO for vessels with Otto medium speed (Otto MS) engines. The benchmark has shifted from a $25/mt premium a week ago to a $68/mt discount.

For vessels with diesel slow speed (diesel SS) engines, Rotterdam’s LBM discount to VLSFO has widened by $93/mt to $242/mt.

In Singapore, LNG’s premium over LSMGO for Otto MS engines has narrowed by $11/mt to just $4/mt over the past week.

For vessels with diesel SS engines, Singapore LNG is priced at a $79/mt discount to LSMGO.

Liquid fuels

Rotterdam’s VLSFO and LSMGO prices have climbed by $26-34/mt over the past week.

The gains have come despite a $6.89/bbl ($51/mt) slump in front-month ICE Brent futures, to $83.92/bbl ($615/mt), and a $1.85/mtCO2e decline in Dec26 EUA prices to $93.34/mtCO2e.

Rotterdam’s HSFO price has bucked the trend, falling by $45/mt.

Fuel availability remains tight for prompt deliveries in the ARA, with suppliers recommending lead times of 5-7 days to secure stems, a trader said.

Rotterdam’s B100 price has dropped by $43/mt over the past week.

Prima Markets-assessed Dutch ZRE A ticket prices have climbed by €25/mtCO2e to €130/mtCO2e, adding downward pressure on Rotterdam’s B100 benchmark.

“Market sources had explained the strong gains by pointing out that not enough renewable fuels are blended to meet the Dutch maritime mandate this year,” Prima said.

Singapore’s VLSFO price has risen by $16/mt over the past week, while LSMGO has edged down by $4/mt.

VLSFO availability in Singapore remains very tight, with suppliers recommending lead times of 16-20 days. LSMGO availability has improved, with lead times easing to 5-8 days from 9-11 days a week earlier.

Singapore’s B100 price has fallen by $11/mt over the past week.

Liquid gases

Rotterdam’s LNG prices have fallen by $67/mt over the past week, while LBM prices have retreated by $67-68/mt.

LBM discounts to LNG in Rotterdam have remained broadly unchanged, widening slightly by $1/mt to $290-298/mt.

In Singapore, LNG prices have eased by $15/mt over the past week.

By Konica Bhatt

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 4 August, 2026