Alternative Marine Fuels Expand Across Major Bunkering Ports
This week saw a wide spectrum of bunkering operations, spanning biofuels, LNG, LBM, methanol, ethanol, and ammonia at numerous leading ports — occasionally with several fuel types handled at a single location.
China’s Ningbo-Zhoushan port provided a particularly vivid example of this diversity. Three bunker vessels delivered LNG, methanol, and B24 biofuel to separate ships at three terminals on 30 September, all within the same day, as reported by the Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration. This marked the port’s first instance of supplying three distinct marine fuels in a single day. Neither the receiving vessels nor the fuel suppliers were identified. Across the port, roughly 3,300 mt of LNG, 7,500 mt of methanol, and 3,000 mt of B24 were supplied.
Ammonia Bunkering Activity
Ammonia bunkering likewise occurred in China during the past week. Mineral Europa, the first ammonia-capable bulk carrier of Belgian shipping company CMB.TECH, received 1,000 mt of green ammonia via a ship-to-ship transfer at Zhoushan. The ammonia bunker vessel Shenghang Yongle performed the operation.
Singapore Hosts Varied Alternative Fuel Operations
Singapore likewise experienced a busy week regarding alternative fuels. Bunker supplier Golden Island is preparing to provide bio-ethanol at Pasir Panjang Terminal, with shipping company Maersk and terminal operator PSA Singapore participating in the operation.
French shipping company CMA CGM joined forces with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and Singapore LNG to investigate LBM bunkering. This arrangement comes after Shell’s recent import of mass-balanced LBM into Singapore and the docking of its chartered LNG bunker vessel Macoma at the SLNG terminal. The MPA additionally issued new technical guidelines for ammonia bunkering at the port, addressing custody transfer, bunkering procedures, safety measures, and crew training.
Vitol Bunkers is set to join the physical LNG bunker supply market in Singapore and other Asian ports later this year, having completed sea trials of its 12,500-cbm bunker vessel Vivit Asia LNG.
LNG Operations Beyond Singapore
LNG operations have extended beyond Singapore. The LNG-capable car carrier AICC Fenghuang recently took on approximately 2,600 cbm of LNG at the Port of Hong Kong before departing for the Mediterranean. CLPe and CNOOC (Shenzhen) International Marine Clean Energy conducted the ship-to-ship transfer. In Spain, Axpo carried out its inaugural LNG bunker delivery in Valencia, where LBM made up over half of the fuel supplied.
Bunker Infrastructure Developments
Alongside physical deliveries, attention also turned to bunker infrastructure. CMA CGM and energy company ENGIE intend to build a biomethane production plant at Haropa Port in Le Havre, France. The facility is projected to generate approximately 7,000 mt/year of biomethane starting in 2029, and CMA CGM plans to purchase the full output for its LNG dual-fuel fleet.
CMB.TECH is building an ammonia bunker terminal at Walvis Bay in Namibia. Construction is due to start in 2027, with completion targeted for late 2028 or early 2029. Roy Campe, CMB.TECH’s chief technology officer, told ENGINE that bunker infrastructure investors confront commercial risks that are location-specific. A terminal relies on adequate demand at a given port, unlike dual-fuel vessels that can keep operating on conventional fuels if needed.
Original Article: Alternative Marine Fuels Expand Across Major Bunkering Ports — Indexbox