Last week, the maritime industry buzzed with insights from a pair of powerhouse webinars hosted by Shell, Everllence (formerly MAN Energy Solutions), and The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF). The line-up was stacked with heavy hitters: Dr Alexandra Ebbinghaus, Dr Luis Garcia, Kristian Mogensen, and Marcus Schaerer, all rolling up their sleeves to dissect the evolving marine fuel landscape. The focus? Alternative fuels, with a deep dive into ammonia, methanol, lubricants, and monitoring technologies. Let’s cut to the chase and explore the two main contenders vying for the top spot in the alternative fuels race.
First up, methanol. This liquid at ambient conditions is a bit of a softie compared to its counterparts. It’s less toxic, less flammable, and plays nice with existing bunker setups. Plus, it’s relatively familiar to operators, with training and safety measures already in the bag. But here’s the kicker: unless it’s renewably sourced, methanol still spits out CO₂. The production process can be a bit of a mixed bag—natural gas, biomass, or CO₂ + H (Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen) for green methanol, which can achieve almost zero lifecycle emissions. As Dr. Alexandra Ebbinghaus put it, “Methanol is a bridge fuel, helping us transition to a more sustainable future.”
Now, let’s talk ammonia. This stuff is no joke—it’s more toxic and corrosive, but it burns without any CO₂ emissions. That’s right, zero. The traditional Haber-Bosch method uses fossil feedstock, but green ammonia uses renewable H + N (Hydrogen and Nitrogen), with a lifecycle of zero carbon. Sounds great, right? Well, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Ammonia’s acute toxicity means robust safety and emergency systems are a must. As Kristian Mogensen pointed out, “Safety is paramount. We need to ensure that ammonia-fuelled ships are as safe as any other vessel on the water.”
The MTF webinar zeroed in on ISM guidelines for ammonia-fuelled ships, pushing for standardised safety and bunkering procedures. It’s a step in the right direction, but there’s still a long road ahead. Everllence’s webinar, on the other hand, shone a spotlight on lubricant readiness. Shell’s Alexia 40XC is already performing effectively across methanol, LNG, and B-Fuel Blends. Everllence is cooking up engines capable of burning methanol, ammonia, LNG, and new fuels by 2050. Talk about future-proofing!
So, what does this all mean for the future of the sector? Well, methanol is the clear frontrunner for the near term. Dual-fuel methanol engines are already in use by the likes of Stena and Maersk, and major ports like Rotterdam and Tianjin are investing in bunkering infrastructure. But ammonia? It’s the dark horse, promising truly zero-emission shipping. The regulatory focus, via MTF/IMO, is prompting early dual-fuel schedules and safety frameworks for ammonia. It’s a slow burn, but it’s happening.
The future fleet could seamlessly switch between methanol, ammonia, and other fuels, optimising for safety, availability, and emissions. It’s a multi-fuel strategy, with methanol leading the charge in the short to mid-term, and ammonia rising to meet the more stringent regulations and aspirations of the longer term. Lubricants like Alexia 40XC and intelligent monitoring are the unsung heroes here, blurring the lines between fuel types and maximising vessel uptime and safety. As Marcus Schaerer put it, “The future is flexible. And it’s coming fast.”
The maritime industry is at a crossroads, and the path forward is anything but clear. But one thing’s for sure: the conversation is heating up, and it’s high time we all rolled up our sleeves and got involved. The future of shipping is in our hands, and it’s up to us to steer it in the right direction. So, let’s get to work. The sea is calling, and it’s time to answer.