Activity in green marine fuels this week continues to centre on real-world applications and supporting infrastructure. Maersk has expanded its ethanol bunkering trial to a larger dual-fuel container ship; Zhoushan, China, has completed a ship-to-ship methanol bunkering operation in a newbuild delivery setting; and a European port is advancing the design of a dedicated green methanol bunker vessel. At the same time, ammonia engine and hydrogen fuel cell projects continue to progress, showing that green marine fuels are steadily moving from concept exploration into a broader range of concrete applications.
1. Maersk extends its ethanol bunkering trial to a large dual-fuel container ship
According to Ship&Bunker, Maersk recently bunkered its large dual-fuel container vessel "Antonia Mærsk" with 100% ethanol at the Port of Barcelona, Spain. The operation was completed on 9 July at APM Terminals Barcelona and expands on the earlier ethanol trial with "Laura Mærsk."
Maersk said the company is applying lessons from its methanol operations and working with port authorities and industry partners to build the infrastructure and operational procedures needed to support ethanol bunkering.
*Source: Maersk / Ship&Bunker*
Commentary: Methanol is still one of the most closely watched alcohol-based fuel routes in shipping, but ethanol is now also entering the picture for shipowners. Ethanol and methanol share broadly similar characteristics in storage, bunkering and engine adaptation. By expanding its ethanol trial from feeder vessels to a larger dual-fuel ship, Maersk is signalling that owners want to keep more options open for the future low-emission fuel mix.
2. Zhoushan completes ship-to-ship methanol bunkering in a newbuild delivery setting
On 15 July, the China Classification Society (CCS) reported that the methanol bunker vessel "Jia Chen 17" completed a ship-to-ship methanol bunkering operation at Tsuneishi Group (Zhoushan) Shipbuilding, delivering 795 tonnes of methanol to the methanol dual-fuel container ship "MAERSK FLINDERS" over 5.5 hours.
According to CCS, this is the first ship-to-ship methanol bunkering operation performed on a newbuild at a shipyard in Zhejiang province. The bunkering system involved was verified by CCS and confirmed to meet the technical requirements for methanol bunker vessels.
*Source: CCS*
Commentary: What makes this development notable is the setting. Attention in the industry has previously focused on green methanol bunkering at operating ports; now, ship-to-ship methanol bunkering is also emerging at the newbuild delivery stage. As more methanol dual-fuel vessels are delivered, coordination among shipyards, ports, bunker vessels, classification societies and emergency response capabilities will become an important foundation for green methanol to work in practice.
3. Wärtsilä to supply ammonia engines for two ammonia/LPG carriers
On 16 July, Wärtsilä announced that it will supply Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia auxiliary engines, together with NOx-reduction equipment, gas valve units and propulsion systems, for two 51,350 cbm mid-size LPG/ammonia carriers. The vessels will be owned by Navigator Amon Shipping AS, a joint venture between Navigator Gas and Norway's Amon Maritime, and built at CIMC Pacific Ocean Engineering in Nantong.
Wärtsilä's announcement notes that the equipment is scheduled for delivery to the shipyard from June 2027. Wärtsilä said that when running on sustainable ammonia, the setup can reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by at least 90% compared with an equivalent diesel engine.
*Source: Wärtsilä*
Commentary: For ammonia to reach real commercialisation, it cannot remain at the "ammonia-ready" concept stage. Engines, fuel supply, exhaust treatment, safety controls and shipyard build capability all need to mature in parallel. This order involves specific vessels with a firm equipment delivery schedule, indicating that ammonia fuel technology is moving from proof-of-concept into engineering and order execution.
4. Klaipeda Port advances a green methanol bunker vessel concept design
According to Ship&Bunker, Western Baltic Engineering recently unveiled a green methanol bunker vessel concept design, intended to serve the Port of Klaipeda in Lithuania. Designed for shallow-water and local bunkering routes, the vessel carries up to 800 tonnes of green methanol, with an annual supply capability of around 250,000 tonnes at full operation.
The company noted that this is its first vessel design dedicated to green methanol bunkering and reflects rising market demand for low-carbon marine fuel infrastructure.
*Source: Western Baltic / Ship&Bunker*
Commentary: For green methanol, newbuild orders on the vessel side are only the first step. What really determines whether it can scale is whether ports have stable, safe and operationally viable bunkering capability. Klaipeda's design shows European ports are working to close the "last mile" for green methanol — bunker vessels, in-port lightering, local routes and organised fuel supply.
5. Genevos and Koedood explore hydrogen fuel cells for ships
On 16 July, Ship&Bunker reported that French hydrogen fuel cell company Genevos has signed a letter of intent with Dutch Koedood Marine Group to explore the use of hydrogen fuel cell systems on inland and short-sea vessels.
Genevos said the partnership will assess how its marine fuel cell systems can serve shipowners and yards seeking to reduce emissions. The report also notes that hydrogen fuel cells are seen as a promising decarbonisation option for shipping, but are not yet mature enough to support long-distance operation of large deep-sea vessels.
*Source: Genevos / Ship&Bunker*
Commentary: Hydrogen fuel cells still face limits on range, storage, cost and infrastructure when applied to mainline deep-sea vessels, but they have more realistic pilot value in inland, harbour and short-sea segments. The Genevos–Koedood cooperation suggests hydrogen's route into shipping may not start with large deep-sea ships, but rather with smaller regional vessels where a closed-loop operating model is easier to achieve.
Closing thoughts
The shipping energy transition is not a competition between single fuel routes. It is a parallel build-out of multiple low-carbon fuels, different vessel segments and supporting infrastructure.
Tecway Maritime continues to follow developments in green hydrogen and its derivative fuels across shipping and the wider energy transition. Working with client needs, we support fuel sourcing conversations, project cooperation and application-scenario assessment. If you are tracking green hydrogen, green methanol or green ammonia opportunities, or would like to explore project cooperation, please feel free to reach out.
References
1. Ship&Bunker — *Maersk Expands Ethanol Bunker Use to Larger Dual-Fuel Boxship*
2. China Classification Society — *CCS Supports Ship-to-Ship Methanol Bunkering System Launch in Zhoushan*
3. Wärtsilä — *Two new gas carriers to stay ahead of environmental standards with Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia engine*
4. Ship&Bunker — *Western Baltic Engineering Reveals Green Methanol Bunkering Vessel Design*
5. Ship&Bunker — *Genevos and Koedood Explore Hydrogen Fuel Cells for Ships*