The Week in Alt Fuels: Next batch of bunkers

Ethanol and ammonia appear to be moving closer to commercial entry into shipping’s bunker fuel mix.

IMAGE: X-Press Feeders has trialled a 10% ethanol blend on the methanol dual-fuel container ship Eco Levant. X-Press Feeders

Singapore-based container liner X-Press Feeders recently tested a blend of 90% bio-methanol and 10% ethanol (E10) on one of its methanol-capable dual-fuel container ships in Rotterdam. The trial is expected to provide greater fuel flexibility across its operations, the company said.

Ethanol and methanol were delivered separately to the X-Press Feeders-operated Eco Levant by a single bunker vessel before being blended onboard the container ship.

The pilot also demonstrated the Port of Rotterdam's readiness to handle a “wide range of alternative fuels”, including ethanol, according to the port authority's commercial director Matthijs van Doorn.

Earlier this year, A.P. Moller-Maersk tested 100% ethanol (E100) onboard one of its methanol dual-fuel container ships. Maersk said the trial showed ethanol that could potentially be used across its methanol-capable fleet.

Ammonia developments are also shifting towards physical fuel delivery arrangements.

Deliveries of ammonia-capable vessels are expected to accelerate over the next two years, with DNV’s database showing 18 deliveries scheduled this year and another 20 in 2027.

And major ports are starting to prepare for ammonia bunker operations.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority conducted an ammonia transfer pilot last year involving 800 cbm of liquid ammonia moved between two vessels. The port authority said the exercise proved all safety measures were in place to support ammonia bunkering on a project basis.

Japanese trading house Itochu recently received approval from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore to conduct ammonia bunker trials in 2027 with a dedicated bunker vessel under construction at Sasaki Shipbuilding. The demonstrations will test fuel handling procedures and bunker operations in the world’s largest bunker hub.

Yara Clean Ammonia has partnered with Golden Island to supply low- and zero-emission ammonia for bunkering in Singapore. Yara will produce both blue and green ammonia and arrange deliveries to the port. The company also signed a long-term charter agreement last year with Navigator Amon Shipping for two new ammonia-capable gas carriers, each with a capacity of 51,000 cbm.

Golden Island will deliver ammonia stems to vessels in line with applicable regulatory and safety requirements.

These developments suggest ethanol pilots and ammonia bunker preparations are gradually moving towards broader commercial discussions for their real-world adoption in shipping.

In other alternative bunker news this week, the first ocean-going vessel to bunker methanol on a “commercial scale” at the Port of Long Beach will receive a $1 million incentive award, the port authority said. The port authority has not yet clarified whether the incentive will apply only to a vessel bunkering green methanol, or whether grey or blue methanol will also qualify.

UK-based biofuel startup HutanBio plans to expand algae-based biofuel production in Oman to 8,000 mt/year by 2029, with offtaker Wakud open to both long-term shipowner contracts and spot bunker sales, chief executive Manshu Agarwal told ENGINE. The fuel produced in Oman is expected to primarily be exported for use abroad, he added.

Nordion Energi has started building a biogas liquefaction facility by the Port of Gothenburg that is expected to produce liquefied biomethane (LBM) for bunkering. The port authority said the facility is scheduled to be built next year and become operational before the end of that year.

Danish logistics provider Scan Global Logistics (SGL) will continue using Hapag-Lloyd’s book-and-claim system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to its shipping operations. SGL claimed just over 10,000 mtCO2-equivalent of Scope 3 emission reductions across its supply chain last year under the agreement, the company’s spokesperson said.

By Konica Bhatt

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