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

LNG Bunkering

Singapore: MPA launches EOI to expand LNG bunkering services amid growing demand

MPA is seeking proposals to explore scalable solutions for sea-based LNG reloading to complement existing onshore LNG bunkering storage and jetty capacities and e/bio-methane supply as a marine fuel.

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2024

Admin

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has launched an Expression of Interest (EOI) to explore scalable solutions for sea-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) reloading to complement the existing onshore LNG bunkering storage and jetty capacities and the supply of e/bio-methane as marine fuel in the Port of Singapore.

MPA said LNG bunkering in Singapore has grown from 16,000 tonnes delivered in 2022 to over 385,000 tonnes delivered from January to October 2024.

According to the EOI, demand for LNG bunkering is expected to grow further with a growing global fleet of LNG dual-fuelled vessels and competitive LNG bunker prices.

“The EOI seeks to gather proposals on three areas: to scale up sea-based reloading operations, including ship-to-bunker barge LNG operations; to facilitate the supply of LNG alternatives such as liquefied bio-methane; and to develop floating platform concepts to enhance bunkering safety and efficiency,” MPA added.

“The EOI proposals should also include mitigation measures to address the issue of methane slip on a well-to-wake basis.”

Participants in the EOI do not need to be an existing LNG bunkering licensee. Participants are required to propose models for operationalising sea-based LNG reloading starting from 2025. Participants selected will be required to conduct trials in Singapore to validate the proposed solution’s operational feasibility and safety.

“Insights gained from the EOI and trials will inform MPA’s review of the LNG licensing framework, including enhancements to supply to better serve the industry’s bunkering needs,” it said.

Note: Interested parties can visit the MPA website for details and submission guidelines. Proposals must be submitted by 28 February 2025, 1pm (Singapore time).

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 13 December, 2024

LNG Bunkering

Wärtsilä wins LNG systems order for Vitol bunkering newbuild vessel

Firm will supply cargo Handling and Fuel Gas Supply systems for a new 12,500 m3 LNG bunkering vessel currently being built at Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering shipyard in China.

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2024

Admin

Wärtsilä wins LNG systems order for Vitol bunkering newbuild vessel

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, part of technology group Wärtsilä, on Friday (13 December) said it has won a contract to supply Cargo Handling and Fuel Gas Supply systems for a new 12,500 m3 LNG bunkering vessel.

The vessel is being built at the Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering shipyard in China, for global energy company Vitol.

“Wärtsilä’s ability to engineer, design and deliver a complete system, including the Boil-Off Gas (BOG) management, integrated fuel supply, custody transfer and bunkering transfer systems, was central to the contract award,” Wärtsilä said, adding the order was booked by the company in Q4, 2024.

Richie Zhu, Sales Manager, Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, China, said: “LNG is today an important marine fuel and is rapidly becoming the preferred choice for owners and operators seeking more sustainable fuel options. The market for LNG bunkering vessels is increasing in line with this trend, and we have established a leading position in supplying modern and reliable systems that optimise overall cargo handling efficiency for such vessels.”

Manifold Times previously reported Vitol securing three LNG Bunkering Vessels (LNGBV) through its shipping company, Vitol International Shipping Pte Ltd (VIS).

The vessels were secured via a seven to ten year time charter agreement with Avenir LNG Limited (Avenir) and an order for two vessels at the CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co. Ltd shipyard in Nantong, China.

The time charter agreement with Avenir is for one newbuild 20,000 m3 LNGBV. The time charter will commence at delivery from the shipyard in China in Q4 2026 and will serve a period of seven years with options to extend up to ten years in total.

Vitol also ordered one 12,500 m3 and one 20,000 m3 LNGBV at the CIMC SOE shipyard in China. The vessels will be delivered in Q4 2026 and Q3 2027 respectively.

Photo credit: Wärtsilä
Published: 13 December, 2024

Newbuilding

UECC deploys LNG dual-fuel newbuild “Blue Aspire” on key European route

Vessel is set to boost vessel capacity on its key European North-South trading network from mid-December this year after recent delivery from CIMC Raffles Offshore Engineering.

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2024

Admin

UECC deploys LNG dual-fuel newbuild “Blue Aspire” on key European route

United European Car Carriers (UECC) on Wednesday (11 December) said it has further expanded its fleet of eco-friendly car carriers with the addition of the dual-fuel LNG newbuild Blue Aspire.

The vessel is set to boost vessel capacity on its key European North-South trading network from mid-December this year after recent delivery from a Chinese shipyard.

The 200-metre long Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC), delivered from CIMC Raffles Offshore Engineering, has capacity for nearly 7000 vehicles on 12 cargo decks.

UECC will operate the vessel together with another five vessels on a route between the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, traversing the Turkish ports of Yenikoy and Autoport, the German port of Cuxhaven, and Zeebrugge, Belgium every 4.5 days.

“Deployment of the Blue Aspire will boost tremendously capacity and sailing frequency on this busy trade route, currently serviced by five vessels, while further enhancing the sustainability of the UECC fleet,” said the company’s COO Per Christian Mørk.

The latest fleet addition will increase to six the number of UECC-operated vessels plying the North-South network, taking in a total of 10 ports on two routes, after the recent deployment of the renamed Auto Way that was acquired by UECC’s joint owner Wallenius Lines from Höegh Autoliners earlier this year.

It will also boost the size of UECC’s owned and chartered fleet to 15 PCTCs, including five dual and multi-fuel LNG vessels - three with battery hybrid capability - delivered in the past decade, with another two multi-fuel LNG newbuilds currently on order that are set for delivery in 2028 and options for two similar units.

“We are expanding our fleet with greater capacity and cargo-carrying flexibility to provide a more efficient service for clients in response to increasing demand as we see longer-term growth potential in this market,” Mørk explained.

Mørk said sustainability is now a key priority in procurement of maritime transport services to meet the environmental goals of vehicle manufacturers amid new green regulations - including FuelEU Maritime and the EU ETS - that provide a commercial incentive to reduce the cost of GHG emissions.

“UECC is catering to this market requirement with an eco-friendly fleet geared to minimizing the environmental footprint of vessel operations with progressive reductions in carbon intensity, in line with regulation, through adoption of energy-efficient technologies and alternative fuels,” he says.

Mørk noted that, while LNG can reduce emissions by around 25% compared with conventional fossil fuels, there is potential to greatly enhance environmental performance on LNG-fuelled vessels like Blue Aspire by switching to liquefied biomethane (LBM) that offers net-zero potential.

UECC is now increasing application of the latter fuel on its dual-fuel LNG PCTCs after recently securing an LBM supply agreement with Titan Clean Fuels that is forecast to cut its overall fleet emissions by 75,000 tons in 2025.

“The Blue Aspire therefore represents a valuable addition to the UECC fleet that underpins our market commitment to sustainability, while contributing to decarbonization of shipping,” Mørk concludes.

Photo credit: United European Car Carriers
Published: 13 December, 2024