Australia’s Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) and Italy’s Enel Green Power (EGP) are partnering up to explore the co-development of the green hydrogen value chain with an initial focus on Latin America and Australia. Through this collaboration, the companies aim to make green hydrogen cost-competitive with fossil fuel-based alternatives during this decade. The partnership is said to mark an important milestone for the two partners as they look to bring even more large-scale production sites of green hydrogen and green ammonia to Latin America, as well as to Australia.
Louisiana to host $7.5 billion clean hydrogen-ammonia production and export project: Singapore-based tanker owner and operator Hafnia has partnered with Clean Hydrogen Works (CHW) to explore the development of a new clean fuel project in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. Hafnia and CHW will collaborate on the development of a global-scale clean hydrogen-ammonia production and export project, Ascension Clean Energy (ACE), located on the Clean Energy (ACE), – located on the West Bank of the Mississippi River in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. This project aims to capture up to 98% of CO2 emissions from its processes and will provide a cost-effective, scalable pathway to supply carbon-free energy, the developers said.
Woodside and JBIC ink ‘historic’ deal to collaborate in LNG and new energy sectors: Australian energy company Woodside and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at securing a stable supply of energy for Japan and assisting in achieving decarbonization goals. This deal, which was described as the ‘historic non-binding MoU’, was signed on 1 November 2022. It aims to promote cooperation in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector and the development of new energy products and lower-carbon services. Under the terms of this MoU, the parties will identify potential projects on which Woodside may be able to collaborate with Japanese companies, in the areas of LNG supply and new energy products, and lower-carbon services.
CMA CGM is poised to move to a larger, greener terminal at Yokohama port: French container shipping major CMA CGM is moving its operations to a larger terminal at the Port of Yokohama, set to be equipped with shore power and LNG bunkering infrastructure. The move was announced by the Yokohama Kawasaki Port Corp (YKIP) saying that CMA CGM signed a reservation deal with CMA CGM to relocate from terminal D4 at the port to D5 by October 2026.
Carnival to install air lubrication on 10 more ships: Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise company, is expanding the installation of air lubrication systems to most of the cruise line brands in its fleet through 2027. The cruise major expects to generate significant savings in fuel consumption and carbon emissions by reducing hull drag by approximately 5% per ship. Carnival is currently installing the Silverstream System ALS on five ships, including two ships in 2022 for its Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises (UK) brands. In addition, the company is planning at least 10 more installations for existing and newbuild ships across more than half of its cruise line brands, and it expects continued expansion of the ALS program over time.
Saudi giant unveils $1.5 bln fund to support ‘stable and inclusive’ energy transition: Saudi oil and gas giant Saudi Aramco has created a $1.5 billion sustainability fund to encourage investment in technology needed to support “a stable and inclusive” energy transition. According to Aramco, the fund will target investments globally, however, the initial focus areas will include carbon capture and storage (CCS), greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, nature-based climate solutions, digital sustainability, hydrogen, ammonia, and synthetic fuels.
Next Generation of Vessels
BULKER
NYK to order LNG-powered large coal carrier pair: Japanese shipping major NYK Line has revealed its intentions to order two liquefied natural gas-(LNG) fuelled large coal carriers from compatriot shipbuilder Oshima Shipbuilding Co. This ship order is a part of a bulk carrier fleet development aimed at achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the NYK Group‘s oceangoing businesses by 2050.
The 75,000 DWT coal carriers will measure 235 meters in length, with a beam of 38 meters. The ships are scheduled for delivery in 2025.
NYK is positioning LNG fuel as a bridge solution until future zero-emission ships can be realized. The company ordered the world’s first LNG-fueled large coal carrier in 2019 and its first LNG-fueled capesize bulk carrier in 2021, in addition to four more LNG-fueled capsize bulk carriers in January 2022.
Wuhu Shipyard floats out 1st dual-fuel bitumen tanker for Continental Bitumen/Tipco: China’s Wuhu Shipyard has launched the first out of two new dual-fuel bitumen tankers built for UK-based firm Continental Bitumen. The vessel Atlantic Narval, which was launched on 27 October, is designed by Swedish engineering company FKAB Marine Design.
RINA greenlights Shanghai Shipyard’s ammonia-fuelled tanker design: Classification society RINA has granted approval-in-principle (AiP) for a 50,000-ton ammonia-fueled oil/chemical tanker developed and designed by Shanghai Shipyard, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). The professional teams of Shanghai Shipyard and RINA have carried out extan ensive and in-depth analysis of the ammonia-powered tanker design. The company expects that the application of ammonia fuel will give MR tanker design significant advantages in dealing with CO2 reduction and greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations.
CONTAINER
COSCO splashes $2.87 bln on twelve methanol-powered 24,000 TEU container ships: Hong Kong-listed shipping major COSCO Shipping Holdings has placed an order for the construction of twelve 24,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel containerships worth $2.87 billion. The construction contract was signed by the company’s subsidiaries Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) and Cosco Shipping Lines with Nantong Cosco Khi Ship Engineering (NACKS) and Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co. (DACKS). The delivery of the newbuilding containerships, each valued at $ 239.8 million, will be spread across 2026 and 2028.
BUNKERING
GET and Stellar to build 1st dedicated methanol bunkering ship in Singapore: Singapore-based bunker supplier Global Energy Trading, and Stellar Ship Management Services, wholly owned subsidiaries of Global Energy Group, together with Bureau Veritas classification society, have entered into an agreement for the construction of a methanol bunkering ship. The order was confirmed at a signing ceremony in Osakikamijima, Hiroshima, Japan, on 18 October 2022. The vessel will be built by Sasaki Shipbuilding Co., based in Hiroshima, Japan. The 4,000 DWT IMO Type 2 chemical and oil tanker, which will be classed by BV, will be the first dedicated methanol bunkering ship in Singapore.
CRUISE
Meyer Turku hands over LNG-fuelled Carnival Celebration: Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku has delivered the LNG-powered Carnival Celebration cruise ship to Carnival Cruise Line. This is the second ship in Carnival’s Excel class and it was delivered on schedule. The cruise ship will start its maiden voyage already later this week. The vessel was launched at Meyer Turku in February 2022. Carnival Corporation ordered the ships for its subsidiary Carnival Cruise Line. Debuting from the redesigned Terminal F at PortMiami, Carnival Celebration will join sister Mardi Gras as the second Carnival ship in the fleet with an LNG propulsion system.
World’s 1st zero-emission cruise ship to be classed by DNV: Northern Xplorer, a recently established Norwegian cruise venture, has selected classification society DNV to class its first zero-emission cruise ship. The vessel, dubbed the world’s first zero-emission cruise ship, will be constructed by Portuguese shipbuilder West Sea. Designed by naval architects Multi Maritime AS in Førde, Norway, the 250-passenger ship will feature ABB’s fully electric propulsion system, including the battery and hydrogen fuel-cell technology. The ship will also include auxiliary renewable energy supply (wind and solar power) system. The company expects that this technology will enable the unit to sail emissions-free in the Norwegian fjords and further afield as the green shift takes root.
Baleària orders second LNG-fuelled fast ferry: Spanish ferry operator Baleària has placed an order for the second liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered passenger and cargo fast ferry in Spain. As informed, the company signed an agreement with compatriot shipbuilder Armon Gijon for the construction of the vessel. The shipbuilding firm delivered the first LNG-powered fast ferry Eleanor Roosevelt last April. This new ship Margarita Salas will have the same characteristics as its sister vessel Eleanor Roosevelt. It will be 123 meters long, 28 meters wide and will have the capacity to transport 1,200 passengers and 400 vehicles.
SunStone takes delivery of eco-friendly Infinity-class vessel duo: US-based expedition cruise ship owner Sunstone Ships, a subsidiary of SunStone Maritime Group, has taken delivery of two eco-friendly Infinity-class expedition cruise vessels, Ocean Odyssey and Sylvia Earle.
The delivery of the vessels built by China Merchant Heavy Industries (CMHI) in Haimen was completed on 21 October. The construction of Ocean Odyssey started in 2020, while the launching ceremony for the ship was held in November last year.
CAR CARRIERS
World’s 1st dual-fuel LNG battery hybrid PCTC named: Norwegian provider of shortsea RoRo transportation United European Car Carriers (UECC) has held a naming ceremony for its first dual-fuel LNG battery hybrid pure car and truck carrier (PCTC). As informed, the naming ceremony for the vessel Auto Advance took place at the Port of Zeebrugge – ICO Bastenaken Terminal on 26 October. The newbuild, said to be the world’s first of its type, is set to provide significant gains in energy efficiency and emissions reduction as it enters service this year to boost UECC’s efforts to decarbonize its fleet.
Grimaldi books construction of five ammonia-ready car carriers: The Italian shipping company Grimaldi Group has signed an order for the construction of five new Pure Car Truck Carriers (PCTCs) with China Merchants Heavy Industries Jiangsu, which is part of China Merchant Industry Holdings. The agreement foresees an option for additional five units, for a total investment of approximately 1 billion euros. With a loading capacity of over 9,000 CEU, the new ships have been designed to transport electric vehicles.
Offshore
RINA okays Med Marine’s methanol dual-fuel tugboat design: Classification society RINA has granted approval in principle (AiP) for a methanol dual-fuel tugboat designed by Turkish shipbuilding company Med Marine. The AiP was delivered during a ceremony held in Istanbul, Turkey, at the International Tug & Salvage Convention on 29 September 2022. The vessel design features 24.25 meters of length, with a draft of 3.75 meters. It will have a bollard pull of around 40 tonnes. Furthermore, the ship will be equipped with a methanol, dual-fuel engine. Med Marine’s service areas are towage, pilotage, emergency response, salvage and wreck removal, pollution prevention, and chartering.
Technology
New hydrogen tanker retrofit project to get a financial boost from EU: Norway’s cleantech company TECO 2030, together with other partners, has received an invitation for HORIZON EUROPE funding of €5 million ($4.8 million) to realize the hydrogen-powered tanker concept HyEkoTank. The partners involved in the project are Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited and Shell International Exploration and Production BV, Ektank AB, Blom Maritime AS, TECO Solutions AS, Umoe Advanced Composites AS (UAC), FKAB Marine Design, Neste Oyj, and UiT – The Arctic University of Norway. Under the project, the companies plan to retrofit an 18.600 DWT product tanker with a 2.4 MW fuel cell system by TECO 2030 and 4000 kg compressed hydrogen storage for demonstration in 2024.
World’s 1st LNG-fuelled, wind-assisted CO2 carriers to feature ABB’s propulsion tech: Northern Lights, a joint venture between energy majors Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies, is said to be the first industrial carbon capture and storage (CCS) project to develop an open and flexible infrastructure to safely store CO2 from industries across Europe. The first phase of the project is due to be completed in mid-2024 and will have the capacity to permanently store up to 1.5 million tons of CO2 per year, with the ambition to expand to over five million tons per year in a second development phase. The two vessels will support the Northern Lights CCS project by transporting greenhouse gas from industrial emitters to an onshore terminal in Øygarden, Norway. From there, the CO2 will be delivered by pipeline to dedicated reservoirs 2,600 meters under the seabed in the North Sea for permanent storage.
Fuels
Maersk exploring large-scale green fuels production in Spain: Danish shipping and logistics giant A.P. Moller – Maersk has signed a general protocol for collaboration with the Spanish government to explore the opportunities for large-scale green fuel production in Spain. The signing of the protocol was described as a significant milestone in the collaboration that, if fully implemented, could deliver up to 2 million tonnes of green fuels per year. The project aims to explore the feasibility on how to cover the full value chain from renewable energy sources to the bunkering of vessels. For this project, Maersk and the Spanish government are reviewing production opportunities in the Andalusia and Galicia regions. The project is said to have an overall estimated potential to generate up to around 85.000 jobs including construction and temporary positions.
Royal Caribbean makes ‘key step’ in pursuit of alternative fuels: Royal Caribbean Group has become the first major cruise line operator to sail a cruise ship from a US port while using renewable diesel fuel to meet part of the ship’s fuel needs. For the trial, Royal Caribbean Group has partnered with World Fuel Services to supply renewable fuel to Navigator of the Seas. As explained, the renewable fuel being used by the ship contains less carbon than traditional marine fuels. In addition to testing the use of biofuel aboard Navigator of the Seas, Royal Caribbean is set to debut the cruise industry’s first hybrid-powered ship in summer 2023, as part of Silversea Cruises’ newest class of ships, the Nova class. The company is also working to reduce emissions while at the port by investing in shore power on its ships and collaborating with key cruise ports for its use.
JAX LNG refuels Sakura Leader with LNG: North America’s clean fuel supplier JAX LNG has completed its first ship-to-ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering of NYK Line’s pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) Sakura Leader. The company, a joint venture between NorthStar Midstream and Pivotal LNG, said that the refueling operation marked the vessel’s first LNG bunkering in the United States. The PCTC received 800 metric tonnes of LNG from the Jones act LNG bunker barge Clean Canaveral. JAXPORT is the only U.S. East Coast port offering on-dock and near-dock LNG fueling capabilities. Sakura Leader is the first large LNG-fueled pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) built in Japan.
Pacific Basin opts for green methanol as the best fuel for its newbuilds: Hong Kong-based dry bulk shipping company Pacific Basin has selected green methanol as the best fuel for its first generation of zero-emission vessels. The decision is based on the findings of a feasibility study the company conducted in cooperation with Nihon Shipyard Co. and Mitsui & Co. The study looked into the various potential green fuels covering fuel characteristics, availability, and scalability, technical pros and cons, lifand etime operating and capital costs.
Biofuels
GoodFuels, partners test isotopic tracer for marine biofuels: Dutch biofuels provider GoodFuels has joined hands with global certification organization Control Union and France’s IDS Group to test the effectiveness of an isotopic tracer for marine biofuels. The partnership, which commenced in early 2022, has seen the companies collaborate to create the new tracer, which can be added to marine fuels as a unique ‘fingerprint’ and verification tool.
Green Corridors
Dutch companies, government plan green hydrogen corridor with Chile: Representatives from Dutch companies including Port of Rotterdam, and Port of Amsterdam, consultants, storage, and transportation providers, have set sights on exploring the opportunities to develop a green hydrogen export corridor with Chile. This Green H2 Trade Mission to Chile is organized by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) in close cooperation with the Chilean Ministry of Energy and ProChile (responsible for promoting Chile abroad). The focus will be on the hydrogen infrastructure needed to secure the green hydrogen supply chain (production, storage, transportation, distribution), formulating conditions for establishing an import-export corridor between Chile and Europe.
Governments
US government awards JAXPORT US$23.5 million for port sustainability projects: The US Department of Transportation (DOT) Maritime Administration (MARAD) has awarded a US$23.5 million Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grant to JAXPORT's EXPRESS project. The JAXPORT EXPRESS project is a US$47 million public-private partnership between JAXPORT and two of its port tenants, SSA Jacksonville and Crowley. This grant will support sustainability initiatives at the Port's Blount Island and Talleyrand marine terminals. EXPRESS is one of the first large-scale investments in zero and near-zero emissions technologies for cargo handling equipment in Florida.
California’s ports receive a federal grant for green development: The ports of Long Beach and Oakland will be awarded federal grants to make progress with clean-air infrastructure projects. The Port of Long Beach (POLB) will receive a US$30.1 million grant from the US Department of Transportation to develop the largest fleet of manually operated, zero-emissions cargo handling equipment at a single marine terminal. POLB has set a goal to acquire all zero-emission cargo handling equipment by 2030 and a fleet of zero-emission cargo trucks by 2035. Additionally, the Port of Oakland will receive a US$36.6 million grant from the US Department of Transportation to support the development of green infrastructure for additional cargo capacity and operational efficiencies at its outer harbor. This grant is part of a US$94 million federal investment in California's ports. The grant to the port of Oakland is intended to implement projects related to electrification, emission reduction, and congestion at the port.
Regulations
IMO energy efficiency and carbon intensity regulations enter force: Amendments to the MARPOL Annex VI entered force this morning requiring owners and managers to measure the energy efficiency of their ships by calculating a one-off assessment of the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) from January 2023. EEXI applies to all vessels of 400gt or more, trading internationally; CII applies to ships of 5,000gt and above, also trading internationally. The EEXI is a one-off assessment but the CII is a dynamic index in which the framework will become steadily tighter between 2025 and 2030.
By Maria Bertzeletou, Breakwave Advisors
The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Xinde Marine News.
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