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SIBCON 2022: Stolt-Nielsen’s Head of Sustainability talks on scalability of future fuels

Scalability and economic viability of production supply chain and logistics of future fuels are more important challenges to overcome than technical and performance credentials, says Bill Bryant.

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Most discussions about future fuels have largely revolved around their technical and performance credentials, but this is in fact only part of the challenge, said Bill Bryant, Stolt-Nielsen’s Managing Director for APAC & MEA and Head of Sustainability in a statement released on Friday (14 October). 

Bryant was speaking at the 22nd edition of Singapore International Bunkering Conference, also known as SIBCON 2022, on Thursday (6 October) in Singapore, where he discussed upcoming bunkering trends with other industry leaders during the Keynote Conversation: Forecasting Bunkering Trends Towards 2030 session. 

“Scalability and economic viability of the whole production supply chain and logistics are more important,” he added. 

“Therefore, the shipping industry needs to take these into consideration when weighing the benefits of alternative fuels because there are economic and financial implications. The ways that fuels are produced also need to be assessed to ensure that we are dealing with a decarbonised fuel on a well-to-wake basis.”

Biodiesel is the only readily available drop-in fuel today

Bryant explained that many fuels require specialised equipment or additional handling procedures before they can be used, which means they are not currently viable retrofit alternatives. Right now, biodiesel is the only readily available drop-in alternative. 

It is also important to note that different solutions may be required for smaller ships, taking into account how much cargo capacity may need to be forfeited to house a particular fuel. Bryant cited the work done by the Singapore-based Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD), which is looking at all aspects of how to handle and manage fuels.

“This is important,” he said, “since the technical parameters are only one issue; safe handling and management of a new bunker fuel requires a lot of testing too. The GCMD is working on a study for the safe handling of ammonia as a marine fuel, in August, it launched a biofuels drop-in pilot project and this month, the centre launched its end-to-end shipboard carbon capture project.

“Ultimately,” says Bryant, “the industry must continue to look at multiple pathways to assess ‘greener’ marine fuel options because the preferred fuels of the future have yet to be identified. Our experts at Stolt Tankers believe that there will be no silver bullet to the future fuel conundrum. Rather than one solution, the industry will select different fuels for different types of ship and it is important not to eliminate any of the current options too early as an industry.”

Manifold Times is an official media partner of SIBCON 2022; a series of articles related to the event written by the Singapore bunkering publication are as follows:

Related: SIBCON 2022: Stakeholders discuss the future of Singapore’s bunkering landscape at session finale
Related: Singapore: MPA develops framework to support biofuel bunker fuel deliveries
Related: SIBCON 2022: SGTraDex enters MOU with six bunkering sector tech providers
Related: SIBCON 2022: S&P Global Market Intelligence and Bunkerchain in MoU
Related: SIBCON 2022: Singapore sets out to drive transformation in bunkering
Related: SIBCON 2022: Development of ISO 8217:2024 in progress; but ‘ineffective’ without industry adoption, foresees VPS
Related: SIBCON 2022 Interview: ExxonMobil to invest more than USD $15bn on GHG reduction initiatives by 2027
Related: SIBCON 2022 Interview: Eaglestar discusses challenges and possible solutions in embracing ammonia as a bunker fuel
Related: SIBCON 2022 Interview: Digitalisation in bunkering ops, can lower costs and enable decarbonisation, says StormGeo
Related: SIBCON 2022 Interview: Co-Convenors offer insights into Singapore’s upcoming Digital Bunker Document Standard
Related: SIBCON 2022 Interview: MFMs relevant for custody transfer of future liquid-based marine fuels, confirms Endress+Hauser
Related: SIBCON 2022 Interview: Clyde & Co discusses handling of bunker fuel quality disputes, alt fuels contracts
Related: SIBCON 2022 Interview: Singapore Bunkering TC Chairman shares republic’s direction on future marine fuel

 

Photo credit: Stolt-Nielsen
Published: 17 October, 2022

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Newbuilding

Yang Ming names third 15,500 TEU LNG dual-fuel boxship in South Korea

Company held a naming ceremony at HD HHI shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, for “YM Wayfinder”, the third vessel in its series of LNG dual-fuel container vessels built by HD HHI.

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Yang Ming names third 15,500 TEU LNG dual-fuel boxship in South Korea

Taiwanese shipping firm Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation (Yang Ming) on Friday (26 June) said it held a naming ceremony at the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, for YM Wayfinder.

It is the third vessel in its series of 15,500 TEU-class LNG dual-fuel container vessels built by HD HHI. 

Mrs. Wei-Nung Kao, the spouse of Yang Ming’s Chairman, Mr. Feng-Ming Tsai, was invited as the Godmother to officially name the vessel and perform the ceremonial cord-cutting.

As additional LNG dual-fuel vessels join the fleet, Yang Ming will enhance operational efficiency, strengthen service competitiveness, and further reduce fleet carbon intensity to provide customers with low-carbon transportation services.

This series of vessels built by HD HHI has a length overall (LOA) of 364.97 metres, a breadth of 51 metres, and a capacity of approximately 15,600 TEU. 

In alignment with the global net-zero emissions target by 2050, Yang Ming has been actively expanding its energy-efficient fleet and is the first container shipping company in Taiwan to operate vessels utilising LNG as an alternative fuel. 

Equipped with high-pressure dual-fuel main engines that run on both LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil, this series of vessels primarily utilises LNG as fuel upon delivery, which immediately reduces greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 20% compared to conventional fuel oil. 

Two sister vessels in the LNG dual-fuel series, YM Willpower and YM Worthiness, are already in service and primarily operate on LNG. To date, the two vessels have bunkered more than 11,158 metric tonnes (mt) of LNG, which is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 12,532 mt.

YM Wayfinder is scheduled to commence service on the Asia-North Europe FE3 service on 1 July. 

The vessel’s deployment will enable Yang Ming to maximise slot utilization and enhance the competitiveness of its service network while fulfilling the company’s commitment to providing comprehensive, efficient, and energy-saving transportation services for customers. 

The comprehensive port rotation for the FE3 service is: Qingdao – Ningbo – Yantian – Singapore – Felixstowe – Antwerp – Hamburg.

 

Photo credit: Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation
Published: 29 June, 2026

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Ammonia

Pilbara Ports confirms plans for first ammonia bunkering trial in late 2026

This comes following Fortescue and CMB.TECH announcing their landmark agreement to introduce dual-fuelled ammonia bulk-carriers to the Pilbara.

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Pilbara Ports confirms plans for first ammonia bunkering trial in late 2026

Australia’s Pilbara Ports Authority on Friday (26 June) confirmed progress of its plans for the first ammonia bunkering trial at the Port of Port Hedland later this year.

On its website, the port authority said ammonia-fuelled vessels are expected to begin visiting Pilbara as early as this year. 

This comes following Fortescue and CMB.TECH announcing their landmark agreement to introduce dual-fuelled ammonia bulk-carriers to the Pilbara, a significant milestone in accelerating the transition to low-carbon shipping.

The port authority said the announcement reflects the growing global momentum behind ammonia as a marine fuel and the collective effort across industry to decarbonise supply chains. 

On 22 June, Fortescue said it signed an agreement with CMB.TECH for the charter of up to 12 ammonia-capable vessels.

Under the agreement, Fortescue will charter a fleet of 12 Newcastlemax dry bulk vessels (210,000 dwt) from Bocimar, CMB.TECH’s dry bulk shipping operator.

Up to three of the vessels will be delivered with dual-fuel ammonia engines and are expected to enter service by the end of 2026. The remaining nine vessels will be ammonia-ready and can be converted to operate on ammonia in the future.

“At Pilbara Ports, we’re proud to be supporting this transition, with plans progressing for our first ammonia refuelling trial at the Port of Port Hedland later this year,” the port authority said.

“This work will help ensure the Pilbara is ready – with the infrastructure, safety frameworks and operational capability needed to support the next generation of cleaner vessels.”

 

Photo credit: Pilbara Ports AuthorityPublished: 29 June, 2026

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Alternative Fuels

Evos Rotterdam starts construction on methanol and ethanol expansion project

Once operational in early 2028, the expansion will give Evos Rotterdam greater capacity to handle methanol and ethanol for industrial customers, as well as for low-carbon marine fuels and bunkering.

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Evos Rotterdam starts construction on methanol and ethanol expansion project

Evos Rotterdam on Thursday (25 June) said it has held the ground-breaking ceremony for its methanol and ethanol expansion project at the Port of Rotterdam, formally starting the construction phase of a major investment in additional terminal capacity.

The project comprises five new storage tanks with a combined gross capacity of 67,500 cubic metres, a new pump station and a new jetty, developed in close cooperation with the Port of Rotterdam. 

Once operational in early 2028, the expansion will give Evos Rotterdam greater capacity to handle methanol and ethanol for industrial customers, as well as for the developing market in cleaner, low-carbon marine fuels and bunkering.

Daan Vos, CEO of Evos, said: “This ground-breaking ceremony is the starting point for the construction phase of a project that has required close cooperation, technical focus and long-term commitment. 

“I would like to thank the Port of Rotterdam, our contractors and all project partners who joined us and who have helped bring the project to this stage. 

“This expansion strengthens Rotterdam’s position in methanol and ethanol logistics, including low-carbon methanol, and gives our customers the capacity they need as markets continue to change.”

Christiaan Kop, Managing Director Evos Rotterdam, said: “Thank you to everyone who joined us to officially start this project. It was a strong beginning for an excellent project. 

“I would also like to thank the project team for helping to organise the ceremony so well. The team has shown the professionalism and confidence this project deserves.”

 

Photo credit: Evos Rotterdam
Published: 29 June, 2026

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