Alternative Fuels

Wärtsilä and partners provide update on Zero Emission Energy Distribution at Sea initiative

Matt Duke, CEO, Grieg Maritime Group, and Kenneth Simonsen, senior vice president at Aker Solutions tell Atte Palomäki what the project has achieved and its future plans.

Published

3 years ago

February 9, 2022

Admin

Maritime technology group Wärtsilä on Tuesday (8 February) published an interview with the Norwegian shipping group Grieg Star and Aker Solutions, a global engineering company, on their carbon-neutral shipping journey while being part of the Zero Emission Energy Distribution at Sea (ZEEDS) initiative.

Matt Duke, CEO, Grieg Maritime Group, and Kenneth Simonsen, senior vice president at Aker Solutions tell Atte Palomäki what the project has achieved and all about its future plans:

What is the ZEEDS initiative aiming to achieve?

Matt: We know that shipping is close to 2- 3% of the world's carbon emissions, which is millions of tonnes of CO2 and it will take teamwork to achieve our goals. There are different industry actors that are invited in to try and solve this challenge together and find the solutions we need as an industry to deliver on our climate ambitions.

What does each player bring to the table?

Kenneth: Starting out, ZEEDS was all about finding the fastest route to zero-emission shipping. All the founding partners of the Wärtsilä initiative bring different things to the table, representing different angles and different skillsets. From an Aker Solutions perspective, we were able to see new solutions, use some new technologies and integrate them into a totality. That's really what we as a supplier bring to the table.

Matt: Our role was to be a ship owner and a ship manager. In many ways, you could say we were sort of there to be the customer who needs to use this new type of fuel. So, I think we were there to evaluate the business viability of these ideas. As the project developed, Grieg has started to use our technology team and our vessel architects to design the sorts of ships that could be viable here. We've been using our business development, while even looking at the production and supply of green fuels.

Atte: We really appreciate how this partnership has given us all a completely new position in the value chain, where co-creating future solutions together is being done in a very effective way – both within the industry and together with governmental bodies. It's given us completely new insights into the market needs and helped us focus on our research and development efforts. So, this really speeds up the new green solutions entering the market.

For a new clean energy supply ecosystem and ships operating on emission-free fuels, we need to scale up clean and green energy production. When will we see the first concrete results of the ZEEDs initiative?

Matt: We believe that there are huge possibilities with hydrogen and ammonia, but they aren't actually fully tested yet as proven ship fuels. There are many aspects to solve this, but one of them is to be bold and try. Together with Wärtsilä, we're designing the world's first green-ammonia fuelled tank ship for ammonia transportation, where we use green ammonia both as a fuel, but also as the cargo. We're planning on launching that ship in 2024 and we think that's a concrete way to prove our ideas. We will show that it is a viable fuel.

One idea stemming from ZEEDs is this string of pearls of clean energy hubs to supply shipping with fuel, which could be a potential answer to a huge global problem. If it succeeds, it could possibly be a real game changer for the industry. How can this vision come to life?

Kenneth: There are several technology pieces that need to be tested at scale, including the production of ammonia, the relative costs of existing fuel types and the fact that the current vessel fleet is based on heavy oil. It will just require some time. There will be a transition phase beyond technology and we will need to see the cost of hydrocarbons or emissions increasing to make it commercially viable.

How have so many different players pooled together without this leading to a ‘too many cooks’ scenario?

Matt: When the team is working together with ZEEDs, they feel like they are part of the same team working towards the same goal. They understand that different actors have different interests but at the end of the day, we're all in it for the same reason, which is to try and make a difference to deliver on the purpose of accelerating the journey to zero emissions. That in itself is a very, very powerful thing to get people to work well together.

What is the right balance of responsibility between companies and policymakers in public-private partnerships?

Kenneth: I think private companies, both small and large, will be part of the solution. We have so many strong engineers and operators across these companies and they will be part of the solution. But we need to strike a balance between the authorities and the private sector. As an example, one of the institutions providing funds to the ZEEDS initiative was indeed the Nordic Council. That's because we have companies involved representing all of the Nordic countries spearheading technologies here. Therefore, this is a super exciting balance between companies and authorities.

Other partners in the ZEEDS project include a global engineering company, Equinor, a multinational energy company, DFDS and Kværner, a leading engineering, procurement and construction company.

Photo credit and source: Wärtsilä Corporation
Published: 9 February, 2022

Bunker Fuel Quality

Report: Integr8 warns changes in VLSFO bunker fuel blends could trigger ‘problematic fuels’ wave

Firm said its new report shows that over 45% of global VLSFO supply would not meet RM380 2024 requirements of ISO 8217:2024 specification without adjustments to blend recipes and the changes could lead to a spike in ‘problematic fuels.’

Published

4 minutes ago

January 15, 2025

Admin

Report: Integr8 warns changes in VLSFO bunker fuel blends could trigger problematic fuels wave

The introduction of the ISO 8217:2024 specification has brought renewed focus on viscosity limits, with a significant proportion of VLSFOs currently failing to meet the updated standards, according to Integr8 Fuels on Tuesday (14 January).

This was based on the firm’s latest Bunker Quality Trends report, offering insights into the evolving landscape of marine fuels. Drawing on comprehensive data from over 130 million metric tons (mt) of deliveries, the report provides an in-depth analysis of critical quality issues, regulatory implications, and market trends.

“Data from the report shows that over 45% of global VLSFO supply would not meet the RM380 2024 specification without adjustments to blend recipes,” it said.

“These changes could lead to a spike in problematic fuels, as was observed during the IMO 2020 transition, potentially affecting fuel stability and other critical parameters.”

Regions like Singapore and Houston are flagged as hotspots for adjustments, with over two-thirds of VLSFO in Singapore requiring reformulation.

“Buyers are urged to adapt charterparty wording to ensure suppliers comply with the latest standards to reduce the risk of critical handling issues,” Integr8 Fuels said.

Other key developments highlighted in the report are:

The Smart Way to Meet Compliance Targets: Plan Biofuel Bunkering on a Fleet or Pool Level

When it comes to compliance with environmental regulations, FuelEU Maritime doesn’t specify a fixed biofuel percentage. The focus is on reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity across a vessel’s voyages over the course of a calendar year. The target is a 2% reduction in GHG intensity between two EU ports, which translates to around 3% biofuel blended with VLSFO or HSFO, or 2% biofuel with MGO.

However, it’s more efficient to take larger biofuel quantities on select vessels and transfer compliance surpluses across your fleet or between ships in multiple fleets, which is also known as pooling. The most common biofuel grades stocked by suppliers are B24 and B30 blends, and pure B100. Their availability varies by port and region. Shipowners are advised to carefully manage their biofuel strategies and check the GHG intensity figures in Proof of Sustainability documents provided by suppliers.

Barge Bottlenecks: The Sulphur Compliance Challenge in Southern Europe

Sulphur compliance for VLSFO remains a pressing concern, with 2.4% of supplies exceeding the 95% confidence limits for ISO 8217 Table 2 parameters in the past six months. Geographical variances are significant, with higher non-compliance risks reported in bunker hubs such as Rotterdam and Balboa compared to Singapore. Infrastructure constraints, including the practice of switching between HSFO and VLSFO on the same barges, are identified as contributing factors. The report underscores the importance of data- driven procurement and robust supplier practices to mitigate these risks.

Rising Automotive Fuel Blends Are Driving Flash Point Risks in the Med

The integration of automotive diesel into bunkering pools has led to heightened risks of flash point non-compliance, particularly in the Mediterranean. Automotive fuels often have a minimum flash point of 55°C, below the 60°C threshold mandated for marine fuels under SOLAS regulations. The report identifies specific ports where these risks are most prevalent and calls for enhanced due diligence when purchasing in regions reliant on automotive diesel imports. Ensuring DMA specifications are met is critical to avoiding costly compliance breaches.

Biofuels and LNG: Key Players in the Future of Fuel Compliance

The report highlights the growing role of biofuels and LNG as transitional solutions for meeting stringent emissions regulations, such as FuelEU Maritime and the upcoming Mediterranean Emission Control Area (Med ECA). While LNG remains a reliable option due to its consistent quality and negligible SOx emissions, biofuels are gaining momentum as suppliers expand blending capabilities globally.

The report cautions buyers about potential operational risks, such as biofuel-related cold flow challenges in colder climates and the limited availability of LNG bunker vessels. The introduction of the Med ECA from 1 May 2025 will likely boost LNG bunker demand in the region, however, the delivery of LNG bunker vessels is failing to keep up with growing demand, tightening the LNG supply chain.

Note: The full Bunker Quality Trends Report Q1 2025 by Integr8 can be found here.

Photo credit: Integr8 Fuels
Published: 15 January, 2025

Alternative Fuels

Höegh Autoliners names LNG-powered RoRo ship “Höegh Sunlight” in China

Firm’s fourth Aurora Class newbuild “Höegh Sunlight” began its LNG-powered maiden voyage to Europe, fully loaded with Chinese cargo after a naming ceremony at Taicang Haitong Auto Terminal.

Published

14 minutes ago

January 15, 2025

Admin

Höegh Autoliners names LNG-powered RoRo ship before commencing first voyage

Höegh Autoliners on Tuesday (14 January) said its fourth Aurora Class newbuild, Höegh Sunlight, was named at a ceremony at Taicang Haitong Auto Terminal.

The 9,100 CEU Höegh Sunlight commenced its LNG-powered maiden voyage to Europe, fully loaded with Chinese cargo, shortly after the fireworks.

“We now have four of the world’s largest and most environmentally friendly car carriers sailing the seas,” the firm said in a social media post.

“Today’s celebrations are not only marking the handover of a ship; they once again underline our relentless quest toward a greener future—and a transformed industry.”

Höegh Autoliners names LNG-powered RoRo ship “Höegh Sunlight” in China

The Höegh Sunlight will reduce carbon emissions by 58 percent per transported car compared to the current industry average.

In 2027, when the first Aurora is powered entirely by clean ammonia, nearly all carbon emissions will be eliminated.

CEO, Andreas Enger, said: “Taking delivery of four of the world’s largest and most environmentally friendly PCTCs within six months is a decisive step to renew the company and our industry. We are pleased to celebrate this milestone with customers and partners during her first cargo operation in Taicang.”

COO, Sebjørn Dahl, said: “Never in our nearly 100-year history have we built so many vessels in one newbuild programme, such large vessels, so technically advanced, so green, and so many at the same time and at this speed. We are indeed an agile, bold, and professional team at Höegh Autoliners.”

Photo credit: Höegh Autoliners
Published: 15 January, 2025

Bunker Fuel

China: Zhoushan Port achieves 7.26 million mt annual bunker volume for 2024

Zhoushan Hi-Tech Zone Administrative Committee highlighted the progress Zhoushan Port has made in the past year including actively planning to build an alternative fuel bunkering centre.

Published

1 day ago

January 14, 2025

Admin

China: Zhoushan Port achieves 7.26 million mt annual bunker volume for 2024

Zhoushan Hi-Tech Zone Administrative Committee on Friday (10 January) said Zhoushan, the fourth largest bunkering port of the world, delivered 7.26 million metric tonnes (mt) of marine fuel in 2024.

This marked about a 3% increase from 7.04 million mt in 2023.

The committee also highlighted the progress Zhoushan Port has made in the past year including actively planning to build an alternative fuel bunkering centre.

It has successfully obtained approval for the national biodiesel promotion and application pilot project. The construction of a project to produce an annual 1 million mt of marine biodiesel has begun.

The first methanol vehicle-to-ship pilot was carried out, and the first methanol bunkering barge in Zhoushan was officially built and is expected to be put into use by the end of 2025.

The port has also improved the fuel supply efficiency of various bunkering anchorages in Zhoushan including Tiaozhumen Anchorage adding three bunkering anchorages on top of the original five and has successfully carried out night bunkering operations.

Xiushandong and Mazhi anchorages have added a total of three new bonded bunkering anchorages, which can implement all-weather and fully automatic anchorage reservations, and provide advance reservations and priority refueling services for large ships and large orders.

The committee also highlighted Dong Fang Zhao Yang becoming the first domestic bunkering barge to obtain the mass flow meter system certification under the ISO22192:2021 standard. The barge conducted a successful pilot for the bunkering of bonded fuel oil using a mass flow meter at Xiushandong Anchorage on 9 December.

A spokesperson of the committee said Zhoushan will focus on promoting alternative bunker fuels such as biofuel and LNG and accelerating the completion of methanol refuelling safety assessments.