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VINSSEN launches hydrogen fuel cell vessel demonstration project in Korea

VINSSEN will build a 16m leisure boat powered by a 200kW fuel cell system and 125kW battery hybrid system and develop and operate mobile hydrogen fuelling stations.

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Maritime fuel cell technology provider VINSSEN Co., Ltd., (VINSSEN) on Wednesday (5 April) is set to launch a demonstration project under the regulatory exemption for ‘hydrogen fuel cell propulsion ship fuelling and operation’, as approved by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) in Korea.

The firm said Korean legislation lacks standards for hydrogen fuel cell vessels despite growing global momentum in maritime decarbonisation. At present, hydrogen fuelling stations are also limited to automobiles, highlighting a need to establish operational standards for hydrogen vessels.

Following confirmation that its design qualifies under MOTIE’s regulatory exemption, VINSSEN will build a 16m leisure boat powered by a 200kW fuel cell system and 125kW battery hybrid system with the support of municipal authorities from Jeolla Provance in Korea (where VINSSEN is headquartered). 

VINSSEN will also develop and operate mobile hydrogen fuelling stations at the Daebul Industrial Complex’s mooring station. These will be constructed as integrated packages with vessel-specific monitoring technologies.

VINSSEN will be supported by (i) Jeonnam Technopark, which will assist in the execution of the regulatory sandbox project, technical support, and commercialisation; (ii) Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute (KOMERI), which will evaluate vessel stability and hydrogen fuel cell system performance; and (iii)Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), which will provide support for the welding technology and quality management methods to enhance the overall standards.

“The shipbuilding industry is a sector that should prioritise development and application of eco-friendly technologies due to heavy dependence on fuel oil and diesel, which results in high carbon emissions,” VINSSEN’s CEO Lee Chil-han said. 

“We hope that the demonstration project facilitates the establishment of rules and regulations that will expedite Korea’s development of hydrogen vessel technology”

In 2019, the Ministry of SMEs & Startups and Ulsan Metropolitan City designated the “Hydrogen Green Mobility Special Zone” to commercialise hydrogen fuel cell vessels, with VINSSEN successfully demonstrating a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion project from January 2020 to March 2022.

Furthermore, VINSSEN is in the process of building and delivering a 14m electric vessel that will navigate Suncheon Bay National Garden’s waterways during the 2023 Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo in April. In addition to its focus on fuel cell technology, VINSSEN is also positioned to support maritime electrification with battery solutions. When paired with batteries, fuel cells can benefit from increased efficiency and longer operational ranges.

“VINSSEN is set to spearhead further progress in maritime fuel cell technology and maritime electrification, including expected Type Approval in April 2023 for a maritime lithium-ion battery System from Korean Register (KR) and Korea Marine Surveyor & Sworn Measurers’ Corporation (KOMSA),” it said. 

Photo credit: VINSSEN
Published: 6 April, 2023

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Methanol

Chimbusco completes bunkering op of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship

“COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU” was supplied approximately 900 metric tonnes of methanol marine fuel by Chimbusco in Shanghai on 11 May.

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Chimbusco completes bunkering of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship

China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co Ltd (Chimbusco) completed a bunkering operation of the first domestically manufactured methanol dual-fuel container ship in Shanghai on 11 May, according to COSCO Shipping on Thursday (15 May). 

COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU was supplied approximately 900 metric tonnes (mt) of methanol marine fuel by Chimbusco at Pier 1 of COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry. 

The operation started on 7 May but was postponed due to unfavourable weather from the Jianghuai Cyclone.

Chimbusco completes bunkering of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship

COSCO Shipping said the operation marked an important achievement in green and low-carbon transformation in shipping, from ship construction and ecological layout of the entire green fuel industry chain of the company. 

Manifold Times previously reported the naming ceremony of China’s first 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship, COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU in Yangzhou.

The methanol dual-fuel container ship named was the first in a series of vessels from COSCO Shipping Holdings, constructed by COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Yangzhou. 

Related: COSCO Shipping names China’s first 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship

 

Photo credit: Cosco Shipping
Published: 23 May, 2025

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LNG Bunkering

Shell wraps up its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona

Milestone was achieved by Shell’s LNG bunker barge “Haugesund Knutsen” supplying the “Mein Schiff Relax” cruise ship at Port of Barcelona, says Dexter Belmar of Shell.

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Shell wraps up its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona

Energy giant Shell recently conducted its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona, according to Dexter Belmar, General Manager and Head of Global Downstream LNG on Thursday (22 May).

He said the milestone was achieved by Shell’s LNG bunker barge Haugesund Knutsen supplying the Mein Schiff Relax cruise ship.

“Barcelona, one of Europe and the Mediterranean’s leading cruise ports, is also a key LNG bunkering location for Shell as we help more cruise ships transition to lower-emission fuels,” he said in a social media post. 

“A huge thank you to Royal Caribbean Group for their trust, and to Knutsen and Port of Barcelona for their collaboration in making this bunkering safe and efficient.”

Shell wraps up its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona

Belmar said LNG is leading the way as the preferred alternative bunker fuel in the cruise industry. 

“At Shell, we’re proud to support LNG fuelling needs at 26 locations worldwide, including major cruise ports like Bahamas, Barcelona, Canaveral, Everglades, Jamaica, Miami, Singapore, Southampton, and Tenerife,” he added. 

 

Photo credit: Shell
Published: 23 May, 2025

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LNG Bunkering

IGU report: Global LNG bunkering fleet grows to 56 operational vessels by 2024

LNG bunkering fleet is concentrated in Europe with the highest capacity of operational bunkering vessels, followed by Asia/Asia Pacific and North America, according to 2025 World LNG report by IGU.

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IGU report: Global LNG bunkering fleet grows to 56 operational vessels by 2024

The global operational LNG bunkering and bunkering-capable small-scale vessel fleet reached 56 units at the end of December 2024 with further support from expanding infrastructure and regulatory drivers such as the IMO’s ban of heavy fuel oil in Arctic shipping and the EU’s FuelEU Maritime regulation.

This was nine more vessels than in 2023, with a total added capacity of 82,900 cubic metres (m3). 

This was one of the major highlights in the 2025 World LNG report by the International Gas Union (ICU), which was launched at the 29th World Gas Conference (WGC2025) in Beijing on Thursday (22 May). 

IGU report: Global LNG bunkering fleet grows to 56 operational vessels by 2024

The LNG bunkering fleet is concentrated in Europe with the highest capacity of operational bunkering vessels. This is followed by Asia/Asia Pacific and then North America, both of which have seen rapid expansions in the past five years. 

As of the end of 2024, Europe has the highest bunkering capacity, with a total of 190,757 cm across 25 vessels currently in operation within the region. 

Asia/Asia Pacific has the second-highest bunkering capacity, with a total of 179,700 m3 across 17 vessels in operation. From that, China currently has five operational LNG bunkering vessels while South Korea currently provides STS bunkering services with four bunkering vessels. Singapore currently has three bunkering vessels in operation. 

North America continued its progress toward becoming a significant region in the LNG bunkering market in 2024, reaching a total capacity of 86,400 m3 across 10 operational vessels by year-end.

The report noted: “2024 was a significant year for LNG bunkering. Bunker users were quick to capture the reductions in both fuel costs and carbon emissions from using LNG, taking advantage of lower LNG prices relative to other marine fuels in 2024. Lower prices and an emerging LNG-fuelled fleet were catalysts in the large uptake in LNG bunker volumes.”

The Port of Singapore, which is the largest bunkering port in the world, recorded 463,900 tonnes of LNG bunkered in 2024, almost four times the 110,900 tonnes in 2023. The Port of Rotterdam, the second-largest bunkering port in the world, also recorded a 52% increase in bunkered LNG, from 620,000 cm in 2023 to 941,366 cm in 2024.”

IGU also said the newcomer in STS LNG bunkering is the Middle East with the LNG bunkering vessel Green Zeebrugge.

“The ship moved at the end of 2024 to Dubai and has performed the first ever LNG bunkering in the Middle East. This area is identified as a potential new LNG bunkering hub with Oman, the UAE, and Qatar as the main bunkering locations.”

Note: The ‘2025 World LNG Report’ can be downloaded here

 

Photo credit: International Gas Union
Published: 23 May, 2025

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