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Alternative Fuels

NTU and SMI report helps shipping industry adopt alternative and greener marine fuels

Completed in March, the 12-month study covers the technological, environmental and economic considerations in adopting alternative fuels, says Singapore Maritime Institute.

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Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) on Thursday (16 April) said it has partnered with Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) to launch a report that outlines how companies can use alternative fuels to power their ships.

This will help them meet the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) long-term greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets of at least 50 per cent, compared to the levels in 2008, it says.

Completed in March, the 12-month study covers the technological, environmental and economic considerations in adopting alternative fuels.

The report “Alternative Fuels for International Shipping” was launched through an online webinar session led by Dr Prapisala Thepsithar, author of the study who shared the key findings with close to 150 maritime industry leaders and professionals, it notes.

The institute explains that the report evaluates the characteristics of four fuels, namely, liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, biodiesel, and hydrogen, and outlines ways to incorporate them into existing ship systems. 

The publication also provides information on fuel performance, and the various technologies and infrastructure required to process and store them, such as energy converters and fuel storage platforms for liquid fuels at either room or cryogenic temperatures. 

“To date, worldwide research and development have been focusing on the technology for the alternative fuel application onboard ships”, said Dr Thepsithar, who is a Research Lead at NTU’s Maritime Energy & Sustainable Development (MESD) Centre of Excellence. 

“The aim of our study is to help shipping companies better understand alternative fuel technologies and how they can be incorporated into the overall value-chain.”

Funded and supported by SMI, the institute says the study maps out potential pathways and energy mix in using alternative fuels, giving realistic timelines and ways to overcome technological barriers to reduce overall GHG emissions. 

The study also provides short-, medium- and long-term measures, for shipping companies to overcome challenges in incorporating alternative fuels into their value chain, it adds. 

“As climate change is an existential challenge and the maritime industry has declared its ambition to be part of the solution and not the hindrance, it is timely for this study report to be made available to the industry,” says Dr Sanjay C. Kuttan, Executive Director of the Singapore Maritime Institute.

“We hope that this report will help the maritime ecosystem align with the adoption of the most effective decarbonisation pathway(s) that will justify the expected large infrastructure investment.” 

“This report comes at an important time amid rising energy demands and environmental concerns about carbon emissions and global warming, with international bodies taking action,” adds Professor Louis Phee, Dean of NTU’s College of Engineering.

“It provides comprehensive information to encourage shipping companies to adopt cleaner fuels and set sail towards greener seas and bluer skies. 

“The report also reflects NTU’s close-knit industry relations, as it is supported by the Singapore Maritime Institute, a valued partner of the university who jointly set-up MESD Centre of Excellence to nurture future maritime leaders.”

“Singapore supports the IMO2050 ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by at least 50% compared to levels in 2008,” comments Er. Tham Wai Wah, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Director, Engineering and Project Management, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

“We recognise that the Maritime Singapore research partners play an important role in providing insights into the viable options for our industry to meet these goals. 

“Through this report, we hope that the shipping companies will gain better clarity of the various fuel options available and find suitable fuel diversification solutions.”

The ‘Alternative Fuels for International Shipping’ report is publicly available here.


Photo credit: Singapore Maritime Institute
Published: 17 April, 2020

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LNG Bunkering

2026 ESG Report: Singapore-based EPS completes 530 LNG bunkering operations

EPS said from the start of recorded data to 31 Dec 2025, the company completed a total of 530 LNG bunkering operations with over 2.4 million m3 of LNG bunkered.

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2026 ESG Report: Singapore-based EPS completes 530 LNG bunkering operations

Singapore-headquartered shipping firm Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) on Monday (29 June) said from the start of recorded data to 31 Dec 2025, the company completed a total of 530 LNG bunkering operations with over 2.4 million cubic meters (m3) of LNG bunkered. 

In its 2026 ESG Report, the company said it continued advancing practical decarbonisation through its dual-fuel fleet expansion, alternative fuels, wind-assisted propulsion, and digital optimisation initiatives, alongside strengthened emissions reporting and third-party assurance.

With over 170 vessels designed to operate on alternative fuels, EPS said its fleet is among the largest dual-fuel fleets in the industry. In 2025, 25% of the fuel consumed by EPS fleet were alternative marine fuels, including LNG, LPG, ethane, and biofuels. 

In 2025, EPS also expanded its use of B100 biodiesel, a renewable fuel derived from sustainably sourced biomass such as used cooking oil, food waste, and agricultural residues, which offers increasing global availability and compatibility with existing marine engines while delivering substantial Well-to-Wake (WtW) emission reductions relative to conventional fossil fuels under certified supply chains. 

In 2025 alone, 94% of the biofuel the company  purchased were B100 grade. Cumulatively, from the start of recorded data to 31 Dec 2025, EPS has completed 61 biofuel bunkering operations with over 33,000 mt of biofuel.

The use of alternative fuels has lowered its emission by 464,610 mt of CO2e relative to conventional marine fuels, and it is equivalent to 9% of its entire Scope 1 emission.

The company added that its investments in wind-assisted propulsion systems, alternative fuels, digital optimisation and operational efficiency reinforced its long-term decarbonisation strategy. 

Since 2018, EPS has invested significantly in maritime decarbonisation, committing at scale to LNG as a transition fuel while progressively deploying a broad range of sustainable solutions across both legacy vessels and newbuild programmes, including ammonia-fuelled vessel orders.

As at the end of 2025, EPS had invested approximately USD 2.6 billion across 15 green projects, with over 51% of the fleet designed to operate on alternative fuels such as LNG, LPG, ethane and ammonia.

 

Photo credit: Eastern Pacific Shipping
Published: 30 June, 2026

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Alternative Fuels

Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine orders Mitsubishi Shipbuilding ammonia fuel handling system

MAmmoSS® will be designed and optimised to be compatible with the ammonia marine engines of Everllence SE and WinGD and will be used for shop tests of both engines after delivery to HZME’s facility.

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Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine orders Mitsubishi Shipbuilding ammonia fuel handling system

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, on Friday (26 June) said it has received an order from Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine (HZME) for its MAmmoSS® ammonia fuel handling system.

HZME is a dual licensee of Everllence SE and WinGD, major licensors of marine engines. MAmmoSS® will be designed and optimized to be compatible with the ammonia marine engines of these two licensors, and after delivery to HZME’s facility, will be used for shop tests of both engines.

The company said decarbonisation in global shipping is a critical issue, and ammonia, which does not emit CO2 when burned, is attracting attention as a next-generation marine fuel that will significantly contribute to reducing GHG emissions in the shipping industry. 

“However, as ammonia is a toxic fluid, safe handling technology onboard ships is essential and is expected to drive demand for MAmmoSS®,” it said. 

Going forward, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding said it will continue to provide safe and reliable products for ammonia-fuelled vessels to support the expected market expansion.

 

Photo credit: Mitsubishi Shipbuilding
Published: 30 June, 2026

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Port & Regulatory

US lawmakers reintroduce bill to develop clean shipping technology and infrastructure

Legislation would create a USD 1 billion per year programme to develop the next generation of clean shipping technology and infrastructure such as zero-emission ships and cleaner marine fuels.

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US Representatives Nanette Barragán and Troy A. Carter, Sr., along with Senator Chris Van Hollen, on Friday (26 June) reintroduced the Next Generation Shipping Act. 

The legislation would create a USD 1 billion per year programme through the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) to develop the next generation of clean shipping technology and infrastructure. 

The lawmakers said the bill would help to address harmful pollution that comes from the shipping industry, a major but often unrecognised source of greenhouse gas emissions and port pollution. 

Through the development and usage of new technologies— such as zero-emission ships, cleaner marine fuels, and better port equipment— the programme seeks to protect the health of port and coastal communities, and help the US reduce its climate pollution.

They added that the bill would also help the United States keep up with other countries in Europe and Asia that are already investing heavily in clean shipping technology. The bill would ensure that the U.S. leads in the future of shipping, rather than rely on technology from other countries.

“Shipping plays a vital role in our economy, and at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, but it should not come at the expense of the health of our families,” said Rep. Barragán. 

“The Next Generation Shipping Act is about investing in cleaner technologies, supporting American jobs, making sure the United States leads in the future of maritime innovation, all while making sure we do so in a way that preserves public health. By acting now, we can protect our communities, strengthen our economy, and build a more sustainable shipping industry for generations to come.”

“The Next Generation Shipping Act is forward-thinking legislation that will help revitalise the U.S. maritime industry and boost our economic competitiveness. As the federal government looks to expand commercial shipbuilding capacity, the U.S. must invest in cleaner ships and technologies to compete globally,” said Antonio Santos, Federal Climate Policy Director, Pacific Environment. 

“The bill provides much-needed funding to position the US to be a leader in the development of next-generation vessel technologies and sustainable maritime fuels, while creating good-paying jobs and supporting workforce training. We thank Representative Barragán, Representative Carter, and Senator Van Hollen for introducing this important legislation and call on Congress to pass this bill to spur the market for building the advanced ships of the future.”

 

Photo credit: william william on Unsplash
Published: 30 June, 2026

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