Business
South Korea: Ministries unveil initiative to advance green tech for shipping & marine fuel
Initiative is in response to upcoming IMO environmental regulations, the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), and the paradigm shift in the maritime industry.

Published
3 years agoon
By
Admin
The South Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on Wednesday (23 December) said it has collaborated with the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to jointly develop the “2030 Green Ship-K Initiative” which was unveiled at the 7th Ministerial Meeting on the Korean New Deal held on Wednesday morning.
The initiative is in response to upcoming environmental regulations set by the IMO, the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), and the general paradigm shift in the global maritime industry towards more environmentally friendly ships.
The “2030 Green Ship-K Initiative” is part of the Korean government implemented Act on Promotion of the Development and Distribution of Eco-friendly Ships which is set every 10 years but reviewed every 5 years.
The initiative aims to align policies with the Green New Deal and establish a brand image for Korean ships as eco-friendly.
The main components of the “2030 Green Ship-K Initiative” are as follows:
Development of leading technology for future eco-friendly ships with a focus on developing maritime technology to reduce greenhouse gas by 70%
- In order to secure world-leading technology for future eco-friendly ships, the initiative includes the localisation and advancement of liquified natural gas (LNG), electricity, hybrid core equipment technology and low-carbon ship technology with mixed fuel.
- The long run goal is to develop carbon-free maritime fuel technology such as hydrogen and ammonia.
- The initiative aims to reduce 40% of GHG in25 years and 70% reduction in 30 years.
- To this end, the government announced it plans to support the Eco-friendly technology development project with an estimated KRW 960 billion (USD 869 million). A preliminary feasibility review for this plan has been scheduled.
Korean maritime technology demonstration
- Following the development of eco-friendly technology for ships, tests will be conducted to verify the economic feasibility before launching them on a commercial scale.
- The initiative includes the construction of more than 10 demonstration ships demonstrating eco-friendly technology such as LNG bunkering ships and LNG-ammonia mixed fuel propulsion ships.
- This portion of the plan is expected to contribute to the vitalisation of the local economy where the shipbuilding and shipping industries are concentrated: Busan (KRW 1.5 trillion), Jeonnam (KRW 1.2 trillion / USD 1.4 billion), Ulsan (KRW 1 trillion/USD 906 million), Gyeongnam (KRW 0.4 trillion/USD 362 million), where the shipbuilding and shipping industries are concentrate.
Promote the retrofit of existing ships to become eco-friendly, achievinga conversion rate of 15%
- Priority will be given to commercially viable technologies such as LNG and hybrid retrofits, tentatively beginning with ships from the public sector followed by the private sector.
Establishment of bunker fuel supply infrastructure and operation systems
- The infrastructure for supplying ‘green’ fuels such as LNG and electric power will be gradually expanded (700,000 tons in by 2025 → 1.4 million tons by 2030)
- To this end, the ministry will diversify the means of supplying LNG bunker fuel, such as operating LNG bunkering vessels and building onshore terminals.
- In addition, in order to create a market-led ecosystem for eco-friendly ships, the national classification system for eco-friendly ships will provide additional points when selecting a ‘green’ business operator.
- A support center will be established for analysing and verifying greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions based on actual eco-friendly ship operation information. The center will be able to facilitate remote diagnosis and predictive maintenance of ships for advanced data-driven management and safe operations.
Before 2030, the reduction in emissions is not expected to be significant as much preparations will be needed, but it is expected that the effects of the technological developments will impact the industry in a meaningful way from 2030 onwards, said the Ministry.
“The transition to eco-friendly ships is an inevitable obligation under international norms, and as a new challenge in the shipping and shipbuilding sectors, it will serve as an opportunity to advance the industrial ecosystem to the next level,” said the South Korean Government.
“With a smooth implementation of this initiative, we will actively support the shipping, shipbuilding, and maritime equipment industries to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050 and create a sustainable ecosystem while developing into a new growth engine that leads to a new era.”
Related: Naming ceremony held for South Korea’s first LNG-powered bulk carriers
Related: Korea: Construction of first bunkering ship for LNG-fuelled coastal vessels begins
Related: Korea govt planning fuel conversion of 140 state-owned ships by 2030
Related: South Korea to launch $250 million LNG conversion pilot project
Photo credit: South Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries
Published: 24 December 2020
Biofuel
China Shipping & Sinopec Suppliers completes first biofuel bunkering op of passenger ship in Dalian
Firm successfully refuelled passenger ship “Chang Shan Dao” owned by Cosco Shipping Ferry with B24 bio bunker fuel on 29 November at Dalian Cruise Port.

Published
2 days agoon
December 8, 2023By
Admin
China Shipping & Sinopec Suppliers Co., Ltd. on Wednesday (29 November) successfully refuelled passenger ship "Chang Shan Dao" owned by Cosco Shipping Ferry Co., Ltd. with B24 bio bunker fuel at the Dalian Cruise Port.
The occasion marked the first biofuel bunkering operation for passenger ships in China.
The B24 biofuel oil used was blended with 24% biofuel and 76% conventional low-sulphur fuel oil.
Sinopec China Shipping Fuel Supply, which is responsible for the bunkering operation, is a bunker supply firm jointly established by Sinopec Group and COSCO Shipping Group.
According to Li Zhi, Deputy Party Secretary and Deputy General Manager of China Shipping & Sinopec Suppliers Co., Ltd., the biofuel bunkering business is another step in the company's active business of the group's development strategy.
The bunkering operation after the firm completed the first bonded biofuel bunkering operation of a domestic ship on 7 September.
Disclaimer: The above article published by Manifold Times was sourced from China’s domestic market through a local correspondent. While considerable efforts have been taken to verify its accuracy through a professional translator and processed from sources believed to be reliable, no warranty is made regarding the accuracy, completeness and reliability of any information.
Photo credit: China Shipping & Sinopec Suppliers
Published: 8 December, 2023
Alternative Fuels
Singapore, Tianjin to pilot and trial alternative bunker fuels following shipping corridor MoU
Singapore – Tianjin Green and Digital Shipping Corridor will serve as a valuable testbed for both countries to pilot and trial digital solutions, alternative fuels and technologies, amongst others.

Published
2 days agoon
December 8, 2023By
Admin
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the People’s Republic of China’s Tianjin Municipal Transportation Commission on Wednesday (6 December) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the Singapore – Tianjin Green and Digital Shipping Corridor.
Mr Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive, MPA, and Mr Wang Zhinan, Director General, Tianjin Municipal Transportation Commission, signed this MoU.
The MoU marked the first Green and Digital Shipping Corridor established between Singapore and China to support the decarbonisation, digitalisation and growth of the maritime industry between Singapore and the Bohai Region.
The Singapore – Tianjin Green and Digital Shipping Corridor will serve as a valuable testbed for both countries to pilot and trial digital solutions, alternative bunker fuels and technologies, and facilitate talent development to support the decarbonisation and digitalisation of shipping.
Singapore and Tianjin will work with the research community, the institutes of higher learning, and industry stakeholders such as shipping lines, port operators, shipbuilders, classification societies, and bunker suppliers to enable more efficient port clearance through digital exchanges, encourage the offtake of zero or near-zero greenhouse gas emission fuels and adoption of new fuel technologies, spur innovation and support the growth of the maritime startups community, and facilitate manpower training and professional development.
The establishment of the Singapore – Tianjin Green and Digital Shipping Corridor reaffirms the strong commitment by Singapore and Tianjin to accelerate maritime decarbonisation and digitalisation. Singapore will also be exploring the establishment of similar collaboration with other maritime and port ecosystems within China.
Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 8 December, 2023
Decarbonisation
Report highlights routes-based action plan methodology to accelerate uptake of clean bunker fuels
NextGEN Connect-GreenVoyage2050 collaboration, which includes Singapore, emphasises the important role of regional energy hubs in enabling the inclusive adoption of clean marine fuels.

Published
2 days agoon
December 8, 2023By
Admin
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Thursday (7 December) said the NextGEN Connect-Green Voyage2050 Project identified a key role for regional hubs to help connect large demand clusters and remote locations, with regional fuel supply sources, in order to enable a more inclusive and effective transition to a low-carbon maritime future.
The project is a collaboration between Singapore, Norway and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
These findings were unveiled in the Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub (LR MDH) report titled Routes-based Action Plans: A Toolkit launched at the Voyage to Net-Zero Forum, which was organised by MPA, at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28/CMP8/CMA5) yesterday.
The report was developed following a workshop discussion that was held from 5 to 6 October 2023 in Singapore, with the participation of 40 stakeholders representing ports and National Administrations across Asia, based on the concept of the LR MDH’s First Movers Framework for green corridors. The workshop simulated the process steps of the routes-based action plan methodology, addressing the limitations in its application in the wider Asian context. Additional engagements with stakeholders from the Pacific are envisaged to further refine the methodology.
“One of the key findings in our report highlighted the varying pace of decarbonisation efforts across the Asian region and the need for regional coordination among governments to establish energy clusters that will serve both as demand centres and energy producing hubs” said Charles Haskell, Director at LR MDH.
The creation of energy producing hubs includes defining a strategy that brings together demand from different countries at different developmental stages across the region to build up investment cases for implementing energy infrastructure at scale, all the while taking into consideration the economic and social benefits for local communities.
The report also emphasised that routes-based action plans should be steered by national governments to give confidence to the industry’s infrastructure investment decisions, with development banks and regional funds needing to play a part to help tailor financing solutions to support infrastructure development.
“If we truly want to achieve a net-zero future where no one is left behind, we cannot focus only on existing first mover initiatives. We must also study locations where the energy infrastructure is still in its infancy”, added Charles Haskell.
Essential to driving the implementation of routes-based action plans, as highlighted in the report, is the pooling of resources and capacity building to develop the business case for building the necessary infrastructure for regional hubs that include Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This will require regional coordination and collaboration involving governments and all stakeholders across the maritime supply chain.
Mr. Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive of MPA, said: “As we steer toward a sustainable maritime future, fostering a collective and inclusive approach is imperative in the development of green corridors and the energy transition to decarbonise international shipping.”
“The NextGEN Connect-GreenVoyage2050 collaboration emphasises the important role of regional energy hubs in enabling the inclusive adoption of clean marine fuels, particularly for LDCs and SIDSs. MPA looks forward to continuing its collaboration with IMO, Ministry of Climate and Environment of Norway and LR MDH to pilot solutions to reduce GHG emissions from ships and drive innovative transformations in the maritime industry.”
Sveinung Oftedal, Chief Negotiator of the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, said: “Separate routes for emission-free ferries and ships can play an essential role in stimulating early action to adopt zero or near-zero emission technologies and fuels, and hence are an important step towards decarbonising shipping. There is currently a significant volume of maritime traffic between Asian countries, and our workshop was a great forum to discuss opportunities the decarbonisation of maritime shipping can bring and how efforts can be linked to countries’ wider energy transition.”
Jose Matheickal, IMO Director of Partnerships and Projects, said: “Supporting developing countries, including SIDS and LDCs, in their efforts to implement the 2023 IMO Strategy on the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships is imperative to the decarbonisation of the maritime sector. IMO is pleased to provide, through this collaboration, practical support around the development and subsequent implementation of National Action Plans and route-based actions in line with IMO’s MEPC RESOLUTION.366(79) that encourages Member States to undertake these voluntary actions to facilitate the achievement of greener shipping and reduced emissions.”
Note: ‘Routes-based action Plans: a toolkit’ can be found here.
Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 8 December, 2023

China Shipping & Sinopec Suppliers completes first biofuel bunkering op of passenger ship in Dalian

JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (November 2023)

Singapore, Tianjin to pilot and trial alternative bunker fuels following shipping corridor MoU

Report highlights routes-based action plan methodology to accelerate uptake of clean bunker fuels

Peninsula supplies LNG bunker fuel to EPS crude oil tanker “Starway”

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (7 Dec 2023)

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (7 December, 2023)

Singapore: Golden Island switching to 100% e-BDN operations from 1 December

DNV, VPS, ZeroNorth and EMF among Marine Fuels 360 Award winners

Marine Fuels 360: Fingerprinting to play key role in proving biofuel feedstock authenticity and beyond, says VPS

Höegh Autoliners, Sumitomo to collaborate on ammonia bunker fuel supply for PCTCs in Singapore, Jacksonville

Meyer Turku delivers LNG-fuelled “Icon of the Seas” to Royal Caribbean

Kenoil Marine Services to conduct first-ever bunkering of bio-blended LSMGO in Singapore

China: Dealfeng New Energy completes rotor sail installations on oil tanker, deck carrier
Trending
-
Technology2 weeks ago
Singapore: Golden Island switching to 100% e-BDN operations from 1 December
-
Events1 week ago
DNV, VPS, ZeroNorth and EMF among Marine Fuels 360 Award winners
-
Bunker Fuel2 weeks ago
Marine Fuels 360: Fingerprinting to play key role in proving biofuel feedstock authenticity and beyond, says VPS
-
Ammonia4 days ago
Höegh Autoliners, Sumitomo to collaborate on ammonia bunker fuel supply for PCTCs in Singapore, Jacksonville
-
LNG Bunkering2 weeks ago
Meyer Turku delivers LNG-fuelled “Icon of the Seas” to Royal Caribbean
-
Biofuel1 week ago
Kenoil Marine Services to conduct first-ever bunkering of bio-blended LSMGO in Singapore
-
Decarbonisation2 weeks ago
China: Dealfeng New Energy completes rotor sail installations on oil tanker, deck carrier
-
Hydrogen2 weeks ago
Norwegian Hydrogen will soon supply green hydrogen to world’s first hydrogen-powered fishing vessel