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Transport Minister launches Singapore’s first fully-electric ferry “Penguin Refresh”

The Singapore-registered vessel will be used by Shell from May 2023 to transport personnel between Singapore mainland and Pulau Bukom; it is also Shell’s first electric ferry globally.

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Penguin Refresh

Transport Minister S. Iswaran launched Singapore's first fully-electric ferry, Penguin Refresh, designed, built, and operated by Penguin International Limited, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Tuesday (18 April). 

The Singapore-registered vessel will be used by Shell from May 2023 to transport personnel between Singapore mainland and Pulau Bukom.

S. Iswaran said the launch signified an important milestone in our efforts to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

“With this service, those working in Pulau Bukom’s Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Singapore can look forward to quieter and more comfortable commutes to work,” he said in a social media post. 

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Mr Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive of MPA, said this is Shell's first electric ferry globally.

“We are heartened this is well-ahead of the 2030 timeline for all new harbour craft to be fully-electric, be capable of using 100% biofuels or be compatible with hydrogen,” he said in a social media post. 

Mr Teo added compared to conventional ferries, the engineering teams achieved a 30% weight reduction and incorporated energy efficient technologies to have monthly cost savings compared to using marine diesel.

Powered by LiNMC batteries with capacity of 1.2 MW, 3 such ferries will ply the <6km route at 21 knots for 2.5 round trips in a full charge cycle for up to 200 passengers each way. To meet turnaround timings and optimise battery performance, the automated DC fast charger at 1.1kV each can fully charge the vessel in 30 mins; the 350V AC chargers takes just < 4.5 hours of overnight or off-peak charging.

He stated MPA will continue to identify more sites to e-charge vessels, as part of a charging infrastructure master plan which will progressively support the electrification of the domestic maritime sector from 2025. This goes in tandem with developing national charging standards led by MPA to harmonise charging ports, hardware & software systems and to enhance interoperability.

“Besides opportunities in electrification such as floating charging platform, shore-to-ship and off-grid electric charging and ESS solutions, thanks to Kah Peng Aw, Nick Potter, Thomas Wong and Shell partners, MPA and Shell have enhanced our MoU to share experiences on maritime fuels such as hydrogen & hydrogen-carriers, including mitigation measures and the training of seafarers, shipboard crews and engineers to operate these new fuels safely. For existing harbour craft, we will continue biofuel trials with blends up to B100,” Mr Teo said. 

 

Photo credit: Facebook and Linkedin
Published: 20 April, 2023

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Biofuel

NYK conducts first Japan bio bunker fuel trial on coal carrier for domestic power utility firm

Firm said it has started a biofuel test run on Noshiro Maru, operated by Tohoku Electric Power, marking the first time in Japan that a coal carrier has been used to test biofuel for a domestic power utility firm.

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NYK conducts first Japan bio bunker fuel trial on coal carrier for domestic power utility firm

Japanese shipping firm NYK on Monday (10 February) said it has started a biofuel test run on its coal carrier Noshiro Maru, which is operated by Tohoku Electric Power on 9 February.

This is the first time in Japan that a coal carrier has been used to test biofuel for a domestic power utility company. Mitsubishi Corporation Energy in the Keihin area facilitated the supply of biofuel for the vessel.

Biofuels are made from organic resources (biomass) of biological origin, such as agricultural residues and waste cooking oil, and are considered to produce virtually zero carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions when combusted.

“Since they can be used in heavy-oil-powered ship engines, which are common on large merchant ships, biofuels are considered a key means of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transition period from heavy oil to zero-emission fuels,” NYK said. 

“Using biofuel to reduce GHG emissions during sea navigation also contributes to reducing Scope 3 GHG emissions generated by transporting customers’ cargo.”

NYK added it will continue to focus on introducing biofuels and other next-generation fuels, and will contribute to reducing GHG emissions in our customers' supply chains while promoting decarbonisation in marine transport.

 

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 11 February, 2025

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Biofuel

IBIA welcomes IMO move to draft guidance change on carriage of bio bunker fuels

IBIA welcomed agreement by IMO’s Sub Committee on PPR 12 to draft Interim Guidance on the carriage of blends of biofuels and MARPOL Annex I cargoes by conventional bunker ships.

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RESIZED IBIA logo

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) on Monday (10 February) said it submitted a document to IMO on the carriage of biofuels for supply to a ship for use as fuel oil on board that ship in November 2023.

This highlighted that as conventional bunker vessels were limited in carrying fuel oil of no more than 25% biofuel it presented a potential impediment to the global adoption of biofuels as fuel oil for ships and so to the ambition for the decarbonization of international shipping in the short term, as set out in the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.

“IBIA therefore welcomes the agreement by IMO’s Sub Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 12) to draft Interim Guidance on the carriage of blends of biofuels and MARPOL Annex I cargoes by conventional bunker ships,” it said on its website. 

The guidance allows conventional bunker ships certified for carriage of oil fuels under MARPOL Annex I to transport blends of not more than 30% by volume of biofuel, as long as all residues or tank washings are discharged ashore, unless the oil discharge monitoring equipment (ODME) is approved for the biofuel blend(s) being shipped. 

“The Interim Guidance is expected to be approved by IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83) in April,” IBIA added. 

“IBIA’s membership represents stakeholders from across the global marine fuel value chain, and being able to draw on this technically strong and credible resource will, in its role of having consultative status to the IMO, mean that IBIA will continue to bring important matters to the attention of the wider IMO membership for due consideration.”

 

Photo credit: International Bunker Industry Association
Published: 11 February, 2025

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Alternative Fuels

Ammonia, methanol bunkering infrastructures among 39 projects to receive EU funding

Both projects aim to deploy a ship-to-ship bunkering system at the ports of Huelva and Algeciras respectively and include a 7500 m3 bunkering vessel each.

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Guillaume Périgois on Unsplash

Editor's Note [12 February 2025] : Article updated on CEPSA 

Two projects involving ammonia and methanol bunkering infrastructures in the ports of Huelva and Algeciras in Spain were among 39 projects to receive funding under the first cut-off deadline of 2024-2025 Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), according to the European Commission recently. 

The first ammonia bunkering infrastructure will be in Algecirasa as part of the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley. The project aims to deploy a ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering system in the port of Algeciras. 

It includes a 7500 m3 ammonia bunkering vessel, an on-shore ship loading system and the piping infrastructure for the transport of ammonia from the production site to the loading dock.  

Meanwhile, the first methanol bunkering infrastructure will be in Huelva, also as part of the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley. The project aims to deploy a ship-to-ship methanol bunkering system in the port of Algeciras. 

It includes a 7500 m3 methanol bunkering vessel, an on shore ship loading system and the piping infrastructure for the transport of methanol from the production site to the loading dock.

The coordinator for both bunkering projects is Spanish bunker fuel supplier CEPSA, which has been renamed to Moeve in October last year. 

The European Commission said the EU is allocating nearly EUR 422 million to the 39 projects that will deploy alternative fuels supply infrastructure along the trans-European transport network (TEN-T), contributing to decarbonisation. 

With this selection, the AFIF will support other projects including approximately 2,500 electric recharging points for light-duty vehicles and 2,400 for heavy-duty vehicles along the European TEN-T road network, 35 hydrogen refuelling stations for cars, trucks and buses, the electrification of ground handling services in eight airports and the greening of nine ports.

Following EU Member States’ approval of the selected projects on 4 February, the European Commission will adopt the award decision in the coming months, after which the results will become definitive. 

The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) has started the preparation of the grant agreements with the beneficiaries of successful projects.

Note: The full list of successful projects can be viewed here.

 

Photo credit: Guillaume Périgois on Unsplash
Published: 11 February, 2025

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