Alternative Fuels

Green Maritime Methanol begins engine trials on 100% methanol bunker fuel

Consortium partners Pon Power and NLDA have both successfully ran initial tests for engines running fully on methanol, with further trials expected in 2020.

Published

6 years ago

March 30, 2020

Admin

The Green Maritime Methanol consortium on Monday (23 March) said it has successfully started a maritime engine test program trialing 100% methanol.

It also says new tests are being planned and two important new partners- Rijksrederij and Ghent University have joined the consortium recently.

In January 2020, Pon Power started its engine testing programme with a Caterpillar 3508 spark ignited high speed gas engine, said the consortium.

With customised cylinder heads and a customised engine control management system the engine operated on 100% methanol as a fuel.

Green Maritime Methanol reports the tests were performed successfully and the test setup enables the researchers to study questions with regard to optimisation of ignition timing, lubricating requirements, emissions of e.g. CO2 and NOx.

In the coming months Pon Power and the Netherlands’ Defence Academy will continue to perform more engine tests on this Caterpillar 3508 engine.

The Netherlands’ Defence Academy (NLDA) is also preparing a test programme for their MAN engine (type4L20/27), says the consortium.

These tests include methanol injection directly in the cylinder blended with diesel which acts as pilot fuel for igniting the mixture.

The tests are planned to include both a mixture stabilised by an emulsifier and a mixture blended mechanically.

The behaviour of several diesel, methanol and emulsifier compositions are currently being studied in collaboration with TNO Eindhoven and the Netherlands’ Navy Chemical Laboratory in Den Helder, it says.

At a later stage, the consortium plans to test methanol intake via the air inlet and ignition using diesel directly injected into the cylinder, providing essential data for several future ship designs and propulsion trains on board.

The consortium says it has recently extended its membership with the addition of two leading organisations; Rijksrederij and Ghent University.

Rijksrederij is the Dutch governmental organisation responsible for the management, manning and maintenance of more than 100 specialised vessels.

The fleet provides e.g. services for Customs, Coast Guard, Fisheries Research and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.

University of Gent is one of the early movers in the research for methanol as a transport fuel for shipping.

In the European LeanShips project Ghent University converted a Volvo Penta D7C-B-TA high speed diesel engine to a Dual Fuel engine operating on both methanol and diesel.

To lower the threshold of adopting this technology, the converted engine could also maintain operations at 100% diesel capability.

Green Maritime Methanol says it now has a list of partners which includes: Arklow Shipping, Bio MCN, Royal Boskalis, Bureau Veritas, C-Job Naval Architects, Damen Shipyards, Defence Material Organisation, DEME, Feadship, Helm Proman, Royal IHC, the Netherlands Defence Academy (NLDA), Royal Association of Netherlands’ Shipowners (KVNR), Lloyds Register, MARIN, Marine Service Noord (MSN), Maritime Knowledge Centre (MKC), Methanol Institute, MTU, Pon Power, Port of Amsterdam, Port of Rotterdam, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water management (Rijksrederij), TNO, TU Delft, Ghent University, Van Oord, Netherlands Association of Importers of Combustion Engines (VIV), Royal Wagenborg and Wärtsilä.

The project is supported by “TKI Maritiem”, Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, and runs until December 2020.

Photo credit: Green Maritime Methanol
Published: 30 March, 2020

Biofuel

ENGINE on Biofuel Bunker Snapshot: B30-VLSFO prices drop across global hubs

B100 price surges in Rotterdam this week; Gibraltar’s B30-VLSFO price drops sharply; Singapore’s bio-blended bunker volumes rose sharply.

Published

2 minutes ago

September 22, 2026

Admin

ENGINE on Biofuel Bunker Snapshot: B30-VLSFO prices drop across global hubs

Once a week, bunker intelligence platform ENGINE will publish a snapshot of biofuel bunker prices in Europe, Fujairah and Singapore. The following is the latest snapshot:

B100 price surges in Rotterdam this week
Gibraltar’s B30-VLSFO price drops sharply
Singapore’s bio-blended bunker volumes rose sharply

Europe

Rotterdam’s B30-VLSFO (POMEME) price has dropped $17/mt in the past week, most probably pressured by a $24/mt drop in the Dutch port’s conventional VLSFO price during the same period.

Rotterdam’s B30-LSMGO (POMEME) price has gained by $17/mt to $1,476/mt, which has been similar to a $19/mt gain in the port’s conventional LSMGO price.

B100 has been priced at $1,418/mt in Rotterdam today, a sharp $209/mt increase compared to last week.

Prima Markets’ POMEME barge price, which is an indicator of feedstock sourcing costs, has gone up by $35/mt to $2,059/mt.

Dutch suppliers can generate ZRE A tickets for selling low carbon fuels, which can be traded with other suppliers. The price of these tickets has dropped from €200/mtCO2e ($230/mtCO2e) last Friday to €190/mtCO2e ($218/mtCO2e) on Thursday this week.

Gibraltar’s B30-VLSFO (UCOME) price has slumped $166/mt lower in the past week. The port’s conventional VLSFO price has remained largely unchanged during this period.

This has cut the port’s B30-VLSFO price premium over conventional VLSFO by $172/mt in a single week to $250/mt.

Lisbon’s B30-VLSFO price has dropped $107/mt during the week. It has flipped to a modest $9/mt premium over Gibraltar’s B30-VLSFO price, coming from a $50/mt discount last Friday.

Lisbon’s B30-LSMGO price has slumped $115/mt to $1,600/mt, while the B100 price in the Portuguese port has plunged $215/mt lower to $1,665/mt.

Asia

Singapore’s B30-VLSFO (UCOME) price has dropped $56/mt since last Friday, while the port’s conventional VLSFO price has gained only $5/mt over the same period.

This has narrowed the port’s B30-VLSFO price premium by $61/mt in a single week.

Data this week showed Singapore’s bio-blended bunker sales rose by 48% in August to 57,000 mt, which was the highest monthly volume since April.

B30-VLSFO is priced at $1,015/mt in Hong Kong, which is a $35/mt price discount to Singapore.

Hong Kong’s B30-VLSFO price is at a $109/mt premium over its conventional VLSFO price.

By Nachiket Tekawade

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 22 September, 2026

Biofuel

Petrochina International blends over 30,000 mt of marine biofuel since March

Company has been developing marine biofuel blending operations at China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, leveraging storage and logistics facilities at its Aoshan base.

Published

1 day ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

Zhoushan completes China’s first batch of marine biofuel blending under pilot programme

Petrochina International Co Ltd recently said it has blended more than 30,000 metric tonnes (mt) mt of biofuel since completing the country’s first biofuel marine fuel blending operation on 13 March.

The company said the milestone demonstrates its ability to conduct continuous and large-scale biofuel marine fuel blending operations.

The company has been developing marine biofuel blending operations at China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, leveraging storage and logistics facilities at its Aoshan base.

Its latest product, B24 marine fuel containing 24% biofuel component, meets relevant International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements and marine fuel standards, according to the company. It said the product can be supplied for bunkering vessels operating on international routes.

It has used its global trading network to secure feedstock supplies and support cost control and supply security for the blending operations, it added.

The company said the large-scale blending of its marine biofuel products marks a development in China’s marine biofuel blending market.

It plans to work with upstream and downstream businesses within its group to support the development of Zhoushan Port as a major bonded marine fuel bunkering hub and contribute to its parent group’s transition towards lower-carbon energy.

Manifold Times previously reported China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone launching the first pilot programme for marine biofuel blending in China with the completion of the first batch of B24-HSFO.

The launch was marked with the blending of 2,000 mt of biodiesel and 6,300 mt of high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) in storage tank F-02 of Sinochem-Xingzhong Oil Staging (Zhoushan), producing 8,300 mt of B24-HSFO.

Manifold Times also reported the first cross-regional bonded bunkering operation of blended biofuel in East China was successfully completed at the Meishan Port Area of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.

The B24-HSFO used in the bunkering operation was supplied by the Aoshan Petroleum Base in Zhoushan from the first pilot programme for marine biofuel blending in China.

Photo credit: Sinochem-Xingzhong Oil Staging (Zhoushan)
Published: 21 September, 2026

Ammonia

NYK wraps up first STS ammonia bunkering operation in Japan

Ammonia fuel was transferred from the ammonia carrier “Shoei Maru” via the STS method to an ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier, scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

Published

1 day ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

NYK wraps up first STS ammonia bunkering operation in Japan

NYK Line, on Thursday (17 September) with Japan Marine United Corporation, Nihon Shipyard Co Ltd, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, and Kokuka Sangyo Co Ltd, has completed the world’s first ship-to-ship (STS) ammonia bunkering operation to an ammonia-fuelled vessel.

At a quay within Japan Marine United Corporation’s Ariake Shipyard, ammonia fuel was transferred from the ammonia carrier Shoei Maru via the STS method to an ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier (AFMGC) scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

The operation was conducted in preparation for sea trials of the AFMGC using fuel ammonia.

“This achievement represents an important initiative that has put into practice an operation essential for the future practical deployment of ammonia-fuelled vessels,” the company said.

The bunkering operation was conducted following extensive discussions among the companies involved. Safe operating procedures and work processes were established prior to the operation, enabling the transfer to be completed safely. Through this initiative, we have accumulated practical insights regarding safe fuel supply operations.

This operation serves as a pioneering example of the fuel-supply framework that will be required for the widespread adoption of ammonia-fuelled vessels.

The AFMGC is currently in the final stage of construction and is scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

“The successful completion of this operation marks a significant milestone toward the broader commercial use of fuel ammonia and the practical deployment of ammonia-fuelled vessels. It also represents an important step forward in establishing an ammonia supply chain,” the company added.

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 21 September, 2026