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Vinssen launches first hydrogen fuel cell-powered ship in South Korea

‘Hydro Zenith is a case study in applying commercialised hydrogen fuel cell propulsion technology to actual vessels,’ says Vinssen CEO Lee Chil-hwan.

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Vinssen launches first hydrogen fuel cell-powered ship in South Korea

South Korean maritime decarbonisation technology provider Vinssen on Friday (26 December) announced it held a launching ceremony for hydrogen fuel cell-powered ship Hydro Zenith at its headquarters in the Daebul Industrial Complex in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do. 

The company said Hydro Zenith is Korea’s first hydrogen fuel cell-powered ship designed and built according to the ‘Provisional Standards for Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Powered Ships’ established by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in 2023.

These standards regulate the design, facility configuration, and inspection procedures of hydrogen fuel cell-powered ships, enabling the construction, certification, and operation of hydrogen ships within the existing ship safety regulations. 

Vinssen said Hydro Zenith demonstrated that the design and operation of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered ship is possible within the current system.

The ship is equipped with a propulsion system that combines two 100kW hydrogen fuel cells and four 92kWh lithium-ion batteries.

Vinssen’s self-developed 100kW fuel cell system installed on Hydro Zenith has obtained certification from the Korea Maritime Safety Authority (KOMSA) and NTQ from the Korean Register (KR), and is designed in a modular configuration to accommodate a variety of vessel types and output requirements, from small vessels to medium and large passenger ships and merchant ships.

The company plans to use this launching ceremony as an opportunity to accumulate operational data in real-world waters through onshore and offshore trials, while continuously enhancing operational technology based on its existing expertise.

Vinssen CEO Lee Chil-hwan, said: “Hydro Zenith is a case study in applying commercialised hydrogen fuel cell propulsion technology to actual vessels. Going forward, we will continue to enhance performance and operability based on the data accumulated through real-world operations, contributing to the expansion of eco-friendly marine mobility.”

 

Photo credit: Vinssen
Published: 31 December, 2025

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Methanol

CRI delivers world’s largest e-methanol reactor to Liaoyuan project in China

First phase of the project has a production capacity of 170,000 mt of renewable methanol annually, supporting demand for low-carbon fuels in shipping, chemicals, and other sectors.

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CRI delivers world’s largest e-methanol reactor to Liaoyuan project in China

Carbon Recycling International (CRI) has recently delivered the largest of its kind e-methanol reactor for the Liaoyuan E-Methanol Project in Jilin Province, China. 

CRI, a company that develops and deploys technology that converts carbon dioxide emissions into renewable methanol, said the delivery and successful installation of CRI’s proprietary methanol converter reactor is a major construction milestone. 

“The project continues to progress according to plan toward commissioning and start-up later this year,” it said. 

The Liaoyuan project is being developed by CRI’s client Tianying Group (CNTY) and once commissioned will become the largest e-methanol facility in operation globally. 

The first phase has a production capacity of approximately 170,000 metric tonnes (mt) of renewable methanol annually from green hydrogen and captured biogenic carbon dioxide, supporting the growing demand for low-carbon fuels in shipping, chemicals, and other sectors seeking practical and scalable pathways to decarbonisation.

The methanol converter reactor forms the core of CRI’s proprietary Emissions-to-Liquids (ETL) technology. Designed and supplied by CRI, the reactor is where renewable hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide are converted into renewable methanol through the company’s proven industrial-scale process. It has been specifically designed and constructed with operational flexibility as a key feature and represents the third generation of CRI’s e-methanol reactor design.

The successful installation represented a significant construction milestone and marked the transition to the final stages of project execution.

“The installation of the methanol converter reactor is an important milestone for both Tianying and CRI,” said John Milner, Project Manager at Carbon Recycling International. 

“The reactor is the core of our ETL technology and embodies nearly two decades of innovation, engineering development, and commercial operating experience. Seeing this equipment installed at one of the world’s most ambitious renewable energy projects is a proud moment for our team and a major milestone as the Liaoyuan facility advances toward commissioning and start-up.”

CRI’s technology is already deployed at commercial scale at the company’s reference plants in Anyang and Lianyungang, and the Liaoyuan project represents the next step in the continued deployment of carbon recycling technology to support the production of renewable fuels and chemicals.

 

Photo credit: Carbon Recycling International
Published: 7 July, 2026

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Association

German bunker supplier Heinrich Wegener & Sohn joins Global Ethanol Association

Both will advance the development of ethanol and methanol bunkering by fostering collaboration across the maritime value chain.

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German bunker supplier Heinrich Wegener & Sohn joins Global Ethanol Association

Heinrich Wegener & Sohn, a family-run German company that supplies marine fuels and lubricants to the shipping industry, recently joined Global Ethanol Association as its newest member. 

With a long-standing reputation in maritime logistics and bunkering, the association said Heinrich Wegener & Sohn brings valuable expertise and industry leadership at a time when demand for low-carbon marine fuels is accelerating.

“Together, we look forward to advancing the development of ethanol and methanol bunkering by fostering collaboration across the maritime value chain, supporting infrastructure development, and helping enable the transition to cleaner, more sustainable shipping,” it said. 

The company, founded in 1929, focuses on the supply of marine diesel, gas oil, methanol, and certified biofuels in accordance with the RED II directive.

As a German reseller for Gulf Oil Marine, the company supplies marine lubricants to over 380 ships worldwide on a contract basis.

 

Photo credit: Heinrich Wegener & Sohn
Published: 7 July, 2026

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Ammonia

Grimaldi Group unveils ammonia-ready PCTC in Türkiye

Named after Türkiye’s largest city and economic capital, the “Grande Istanbul” is one of the 17 latest-generation, ammonia-ready PCTCs commissioned by the Grimaldi Group.

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Grimaldi Group unveils ammonia-ready PCTC in Türkiye

Grimaldi Group recently presented the Grande Istanbul, one of its latest-generation, ammonia-ready Pure Car & Truck Carriers (PCTCs), during a ceremony held at Autoport in Kocaeli, Türkiye.

Named after Türkiye’s largest city and economic capital, the Grande Istanbul is one of the 17 latest-generation, ammonia-ready PCTCs commissioned by the Grimaldi Group.

The vessel offers a capacity of up to 9,241 CEUs while reducing CO₂ emissions per unit of cargo by up to 50% compared with previous-generation car carriers.

“The ceremony reaffirmed the Group’s long-term commitment to Türkiye, where it has been operating for almost five decades,” the company said in a social media post.

“Today, around 20 state-of-the-art ro-ro vessels and PCTCs connect Turkish ports with a global network of more than 150 ports in over 60 countries, supporting the country’s automotive industry and international trade.”

The Grande Istanbul is currently deployed on the Grimaldi Group’s EuroMed Service, linking several ports in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, including Autoport, Borusan, Derince, Gemlik, Haydarpaşa and İzmir in Türkiye. 

 

Photo credit: Grimaldi Group
Published: 7 July, 2026

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