The decarbonization of the maritime industry is increasingly picking up pace, led by new zero-emissions and hybrid-powered vessels. A group of fuel production stakeholders, including H2Carrier and MAN Energy Solutions, has this week called on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to develop policies that incentivize the production and adoption of sustainable fuel alternatives.
They have called for ambitious interim targets for 2030 and 2040 to eliminate emissions from shipping in line with the 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature goal of the Paris Agreement – and the full decarbonisation of the shipping industry by 2050.
While reviewing industry news this week, we found these reports which, while seemingly unconnected, demonstrate a common pursuit of new ‘green’ fuels for cargo vessels.
Biodiesel Fuel
K Line Port Service Co., Ltd., a group company of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, has conducted a demonstrative test voyage with the tugboat Aihomaru operating in Nagoya Port using next-generation biodiesel fuel. Biodiesel fuel is carbon neutral defined in the IPCC guidelines and a decarbonized fuel that can be used without changing the specifications of existing marine diesel engines by mixed combustion with heavy fuel oil (HFO), which is the main fuel for ships.
Ammonia-to-Power
Brooklyn-based technology startup Amogy has ordered four 200 kW ammonia-to-power systems from a Norwegian shipping company. The new vessel will be outfitted with a total of 800 kW powerpacks, to provide the primary power for the vessel with zero-emissions operations. The ammonia-to-power technology feeds liquid ammonia through its cracking modules integrated into a hybrid fuel cell system, which powers the electric motors.
Electric Hybrid
India’s Chowgule Shipyard has launched Electramar, the first unit in the series of twelve energy-efficient plug-in hybrid vessels ordered by AtoB@C Shipping, a subsidiary of ESL Shipping. The vessels will feature battery packs, shoreside electricity solutions and electric hybrid use to enable completely emission-free and noise-free port calls. ESL Shipping said that the ships will have 50% lower greenhouse gas emissions, including CO2, per cargo unit transported when compared to the existing ships.
LNG
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services has held a naming ceremony for new 15,000 TEU containership duo which is powered by liquified natural gas (LNG) at Samsung Heavy Industries’ (SHI) yard in South Korea this week. The 15,000 TEU feeder is equipped with the latest technology to support decarbonisation goals.
Methanol
Maersk’s methanol-powered feeder is gearing up for sea trials this week as the keel is laid for the first larger ship from the series. The world’s first feeder vessel powered by green methanol is nearing construction completion and is getting ready to embark on its sea trials later this month.
Decarnonization
German chemical company K+S Aktiengesellschaft (K+S) and Swire Bulk have entered into a formal partnership to develop decarbonization solutions to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime supply chain. Swire Bulk working towards reducing carbon intensity by 50% in 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. K+S has set the target to reduce CO2 emissions by 10% by 2030 compared with 2020.
Controlled CO2
Navigator Holdings has established a joint venture with Bumi Armada Berhad to provide CO2 shipping and injection solutions in the UK. The CO2 will be injected into offshore storage aquifers and/or depleted oil and gas reservoirs in a controlled manner to effectively manage their CO2 emissions. It is estimated that the potential market in the United Kingdom alone, is over 30 million tonnes of CO2 per annum.
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