ALTERNATE FUELS

WinGD and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Agree Ammonia Fuel Supply System Design

WinGD is developing a range of ammonia-fueled engines and reports it has finalzied a fuel system supply design with Mitsubishi (WinGD file phot)

PUBLISHED FEB 22, 2024 7:47 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

 

 

Engine manufacturer WinGD and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding report they have reached a key milestone in the development of ammonia-fueled propulsion. The two companies have finalized the basic design for an ammonia fuel supply system for an ammonia-fueled large, low-speed two-stroke marine engine.

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and WinGD concluded a Memorandum of Understanding in June 2023 to undertake technical studies on an ammonia fuel supply system. Under the partnership, WinGD is working to develop X?DF?A engines at appropriate sizes for a range of vessel designs, providing the shipbuilder with the specifications for installing the engines and the requirements for all auxiliary fuel systems. Mitsubishi is designing the vessels, setting performance parameters for the engines, and further developing its existing ammonia fuel supply system (AFSS) for use with WinGD’s ammonia engines.

The AFSS design is the first result of the wide-ranging partnership focusing on developing solutions for ammonia engines and fuel systems that can be applied across a range of vessel designs. Because ammonia emits no CO2 when combusted it is viewed as a leading alternative marine fuel as well as for heavy industry, but it also presents challenges to achieve and maintain steady combustion as well as the highly toxic and corrosive nature of ammonia.

As well as the fuel supply system - including a fuel valve unit, fuel conditioning, and all related piping – the companies report their concept includes several features to enable the safe use of ammonia as a marine fuel. These include an ammonia catching system as well as purging and venting arrangements.

“At present, our primary focus is on advancing the technology of our clean-fuel solutions including our ammonia-powered X?DF?A engines, with the first delivery expected in Q2 2025,” said Sebastian Hensel, Director R&D at WinGD. “This collaboration will make sure that the auxiliary systems and integration capability are in place to apply our engine designs, and developing the fuel supply system concept is a crucial step in bringing ammonia fuel capability to the marine market.”

The project will now proceed to the detailed design phase, ensuring that ammonia capability is available to ocean going vessel operators ahead of regulatory requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In September 2023, WinGD reported that it had received approval in principle for the first of its ammonia two-stroke engines from Lloyd’s Register, the first ever awarded for two-stroke engines fueled with ammonia. They reported the engines will operate according to the Diesel principle in both diesel and ammonia modes, and Win has already recorded the first future delivery orders for ammonia-ready vessels. 

Vitol Introduces Dedicated Biofuel Bunker Barge in Singapore to Meet Demand

Marine Future is the first bunker barge able to deliver 100 percent bio-component fuels (Vitol)

PUBLISHED FEB 22, 2024 7:17 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

 

Asia’s market for biofuels is expanding rapidly and to take advantage of the emerging opportunities, Vitol, one of Singapore’s leading fuel suppliers has taken delivery of its first specialized bunker vessel. The company looks to take advantage of the emerging opportunity and last fall reported the first vessel would be the first of several specialized bunker barges placed into service.

“Though at a nascent stage, demand for biofuel is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, as the shipping industry looks at ways to decarbonize and curb emissions,” says Vitol. They point to the International Maritime Organization’s interim regulations released last October as another factor likely in the near term to spur growth in biofuels.

“Biofuels are a key pathway for the hard-to-abate shipping sector to mitigate emissions,” the company notes.

As a result, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore which controls the bunker market, reported that last year sales of biofuel increased by nearly four times. They reported biofuel sales in Singapore reached 520,000 tons in 2023 up from just 140,000 tons in 20222.

Vitol recently introduced the Marine Future, a nearly 335-foot (102-meter) bunker vessel in Singapore. The vessel was specifically designed for the biofuel sector and built in China. It has the capacity to carry about 7,000 MT of biofuels and in the future can also be re-configured to supply methanol.

It is the first bunker tanker in Singapore to have the appropriate design and designation to deliver 100 percent bio-component fuels. The previous vessels in the market are all oil tankers, and Vitol points out that regulations restrict them to a maximum of 25 percent biofuel component in biofuel blends.
 
Through its V-Bunkers operation, the company already operates more than 20 bunker barges based in Singapore. They anticipate the new vessel will contribute to the continuing rapid growth in biofuel sales. Starting with the Marine Future, Vitol can offer a range of biofuel blends.
 

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Estonia Proceeds with Innovative Hydrogen-Electric RoPax Ferry

Estonia is seeking construction proposals after receiving design approval from Lloyd's Register (Estonian State Fleet)

PUBLISHED FEB 6, 2024 9:16 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

 

 

Estonian State Fleet, the national ferry operator, is moving forward with one of the most innovative ferry designs seeking to launch in 2026 one of the largest hydrogen-fueled, electric RoPax ferries. The design project began in 2021 and recently they concluded a tender for the shipyard to construct the vessel.

Designs for the zero-emission ferry were developed working with Finnish ship design and engineering firm Deltamarin. Lloyd’s Register reviewed and certified the design approving the current state of the design process to be suitable for further design, construction, and procurement of the RoPax ferry. The design was awarded Approval in Principle by LR last November and Estonian State Fleet immediately moved into the construction tender. Proposals were due by January 17, and they are expected to shortly announce the winner.

According to Andres Laasma, Director General of the Estonian State Fleet, great attention was paid to energy efficiency when designing the innovative ferry. The propulsion system calls for a fully electric drive that will be able to operate either from batteries charged while the vessel is docked or from hydrogen-fueled power cells.

"What makes the ferry special is the way it uses green energy and the technology of energy storage and release into electrical energy," says Laasma. "Thanks to updated technologies and a new hull design, the energy consumption of the new ferry is almost 20 percent lower compared to the previous generation ferries."

Lloyd's Register approved the design to proceed toward construction in November 2023 (LR)

 

He notes that the ferry which will have a little over 1,000 linear meters for cars, will be able to operate in Estonian ice conditions with lower energy consumption. It will also provide approximately 20 percent more space than previous generations of ferries. It will be able to accommodate nearly 200 passenger cars or for example a mix with 16 large trucks and 50 passenger cars. While being highly energy efficient, it will also increase passenger comfort with the ability to accommodate 700 people and provide a lounge area and restaurant with an onboard galley. There are also cabin spaces for the crew.

“The Estonian State Fleet is committed to leading the way in innovation within its sector,” said Laasma. “To achieve this, we have undertaken a project to develop a passenger ship with a remarkably high level of autonomy. Despite the challenges involved in this complex endeavor, including regulatory hurdles, technological risks, and significant initial investments, the potential benefits are considerable.”

The new ferry will be highly efficient and designed to take advantage of future developments. This includes systems for automatic movement and decision support. In the future, it will be able to operate fully autonomously handling functions including docking and mooring. It is also designed to be ready for remote operations.

Plans call for the ferry to connect the Estonian mainland with its two largest islands, Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. The company expects to spend approximately €40 million with the shipbuilding financed by the European Modernization Fund and CO2 quota fee revenue. The tender specifies the vessel should enter service on October 1, 2026.

NYK Repowers Japan's First LNG-Powered Tug to Run On Ammonia Instead

Sakigake, Japan's first LNG dual fuel tug, at delivery in 2015 (NYK)

PUBLISHED FEB 5, 2024 4:45 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

 

Japanese shipowner NYK has taken delivery of an ammonia-fueled engine for use in a tug application, and it is tearing out the LNG dual-fuel engine of Japan's first LNG-powered tug to make a testbed. 

The tug Sakigake was the first LNG-fueled vessel of its kind in Japan. With support from the Japanese government, it was constructed by NYK's Keihin Dock Co. and delivered to NYK in mid-2015, and it was put into service in Tokyo Bay. At the time, it was considered a technical achievement, since fitting a complete LNG fuel storage and delivery system into the small hull of a tug is a difficult feat of marine engineering. 

For the new conversion, Keihin Dock Co. is cutting into the tug's engine room to remove the existing LNG-powered main engine. It will install a new ammonia-powered engine, supplied by IHI Power Systems, and the tug will be returned to service in June. 

IHI Power Systems’ Ota Plant began testing the 280mm-bore, four-stroke ammonia engine in April 2023. It is designed to run on 20 percent diesel / 80 percent ammonia, and it is paired with exhaust aftertreatment to eliminate unwanted nitrogen-based emissions from ammonia combustion. In particular, the testing verified near-zero emissions of dinitrogen monoxide (N2O) and unburnt ammonia. 

A parallel project aims to adapt the technology to a 250mm-bore engine for use on an auxiliary engine, which will be installed aboard an ammonia-fueled ammonia carrier, currently under development for delivery in 2026. 

IHI is developing a range of engines powered by ammonia, from diesel-cycle internal combustion engines up to gas turbines for powerplant applications. In 2022, it achieved the first trial run of a gas turbine on 100 percent pure ammonia. It is working on a commercialized version of the turbine system for sale by next year. 

In years to come, Japan is expected to draw down 20 million tonnes of green ammonia per year for consumption in its coal-fired powerplants, creating immense demand for the green hydrogen-derived fuel from a nascent global market.  

Evergreen and X-Press to Launch Methanol-Fueled Feeder Service

Eco Maestro, one of X-Press Feeders' new boxships, goes down the ways (X-Press Feeders)

PUBLISHED FEB 5, 2024 8:01 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

 

Taiwan's Evergreen Marine has reached an agreement with X-Press Feeders to acquire capacity on X-Press' new methanol dual-fuel boxships within the European market, where carbon emissions regulations are tighter than anywhere else. 

Evergreen is a key customer of X-Press, and the new deal will help underpin the new methanol-powered container service in Europe. In 2021, X-Press Feeders ordered 16 dual-fuel methanol boxships from New Dayang Shipbuilding and Ningbo Xinle Shipbuilding, following the lead set by Maersk. The world's first operating dual-fuel methanol boxship is also a feeder, the Laura Maersk, which will also operate in the European market. 

X-Press' dual-fuel methanol fleet will begin operation out of Rotterdam later this year, with Evergreen's support. The network will cover destinations in the Baltic and in Scandinavia. Ultimately the line will have 14 of the vessels operating in the region, including both northern Europe and the Mediterranean. 

The fuel will be bio-methanol supplied by OCI Global, and it will be certified to International Sustainability and Carbon Certification standards for green fuel. The feedstock for fuel production will come from decomposition of organic waste and residues, according to Evergreen. 

X-Press Feeders has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with the IMO's current ambitions. 

“We are pioneering the use of dual-fuel vessels and we decided to take delivery of our vessels sooner, rather than later, because we know we need to take significant steps today to meet the targets for reductions in GHG emissions,” said Francis Goh, X-Press Feeders’ Chief Operating Officer.

Matson Proceeding with Third LNG Conversion for its Containerships

Shipyard has been contracted for the conversion of the Kaimana Hila to dual-fuel LNG operations (Matson)

PUBLISHED FEB 6, 2024 3:14 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

 

Matson is proceeding with its plans to convert three of its containerships to dual-fuel LNG operations. China’s COSCO Shipping Shipyard (Nantong) reports it signed a contract with Matson for the third step in the conversion program, the retrofit of the 2019-built vessel Kaimana Hila. 

The project was first announced in 2022 when Matson contracted with MAN PrimeServ for the conversion of the first ship of the Aloha Class, the Daniel K. Inouye, which had been built in 2018. The two sisterships are 50,000 dwt containerships measuring 841 feet in length and with a capacity for 3,800 TEU.

Matson noted that the sisterships along with the later sisterships Lurline and Matsonia were all outfitted with LNG-capable dual-fuel engines in anticipation of their eventual conversion. However, at the time the ships were introduced, they noted that commercial supplies of LNG were not yet available in its network.

Details on the project and its timing were not announced, but Matson previously said it would begin in the second quarter of 2024 and is scheduled to be back in service by year-end. It is being coordinated with the retrofit of a third Matson vessel, the Manukai (29,500 dwt and 2,370 TEU). Built in 2003, the vessel arrived last August in Nantong for a more extensive renovation project that involved replacing her main engine as well as the installation of LNG tanks and the systems. She is due to return to service this summer.

MAN PrimeServ reported in March 2023 that Matson had taken up the option for the conversion of the Kaimana Hila. MAN noted that the dual-fuel conversion provides fuel flexibility to take advantage of optimal fuel prices while the vessels can also comply with IMO emission targets and extend their operational lifetimes.

The conversion of the Kaimana Hila will be similar to the work carried out in the first half of 2023 on the Daniel K. Inouye, which involved the fitting of three LNG tanks, which was completed in March 2023, as well as the gas supply and control systems, associated piping and other conversion equipment, which was due to be completed by June 2023. Matson estimated that the conversion of each of the Aloha Class vessels was costing approximately $35 million. 

After completing the conversion, the Daniel K. Inouye was initially fueled in Long Beach, California in a truck-to-ship operation. The first operational LNG bunkering took place on September 4 loading nearly 1,400 cubic meters of LNG.

Matson and CNOOC Zhejiang New Energy Co. in October 2023 entered into an LNG supply agreement. It was the first international ship LNG bunkering fixed-term contract of CNOOC and followed by the first LNG ship-to-ship bunkering of 759 tons of LNG performed at the Meishan in the Ningbo port complex for the Daniel K. Inouye. CNOOC will be supplying the LNG for the Matson ships operating between the United States and China.

Matson has also ordered the construction of three new 3,600 TEU Aloha Class containerships which will be delivered LNG-ready. They are to be built at Philly Shipyard for delivery in 2026 and 2027. The company at last report was also considering LNG retrofitting projects for the Kanaloa Class vessels, Lurline and Matsonia. Matson is investing nearly $1 billion for the three conversions and another $1 billion to build the three new vessels.

European Ethanol Producers File Challenge to FuelEU Maritime Regulation

Ehtanol producers are challenges the FuelEU Maritime regulation (istock)

PUBLISHED FEB 1, 2024 7:01 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

 

An industry group representing European ethanol producers launched a legal challenge they announced yesterday seeking to at least partially annul the FuelEU Maritime Regulation saying that it improperly addresses sustainable biofuels such as renewable ethanol. In a filing made last month to the General Court of the European Union they argue the maritime regulations due to go into effect in 2025 failed to properly reflect the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive and if permitted to proceed would jeopardize the EU efforts in biofuels.

The efforts to extend the FuelEU regulations to the maritime and aviation industries were a long and hard-fought battle with a political agreement finally reached in March 2023. The shipping industry won some key concessions but starting in 2025 the regulations move to aggressively reduce carbon emissions through a series of step down between next year and 2025. It includes provisions for e-fuels but there were also concerns about creating competition with the food supply.

The filing argues that the FuelEU Maritime Regulation fails to properly recognize the proven benefits of sustainable crop-based biofuels and has therefore violated several key EU legislative procedures. They are saying that the regulation excludes Renewable Energy Directive (RED)-compliant crop-based biofuels from the decarbonization objectives of the maritime sector.

“The EU’s patchwork approach to crop-based renewable ethanol – confirming its sustainability and importance in the Renewable Energy Directive but sidelining it in FuelEU Maritime and RefuelEU Aviation – is more than just discriminatory,” said David Carpintero, Director General of ePURE, the European renewable ethanol association. “It also jeopardizes the EU’s ability to meet ambitious decarbonization targets,” he argues.

The legal action is based on several arguments, including among others that the European Parliament and the Council “committed a manifest error of assessment by failing to rely on scientific and technical data in preparing their policy on the environment.” The argument contends that the policymakers violated the principle of proportionality by considering that RED-compliant crop-based biofuels have the same emission factors as the least favorable fossil fuel in maritime transport. The regulation as written they argue violated the principle of equal treatment because the methodology used to calculate GHG intensity of the energy used on board ships is not consistent with the RED's biofuel GHG emission calculation.

The lobbyists are asking the court to annul the portions of the regulation that they contend fail to properly reflect the Renewable Energy Directive.  

If the FuelEU Maritime regulation is permitted to proceed as written, they are arguing the EU would be discouraging domestic renewable fuel production. One producer, agribusiness Pannonia, and its subsidiary ClonBio Group are calling the policymaking “irresponsible” and “unstable,” saying they are pursuing investments in the U.S. instead. They argue that the EU will be left behind when the global maritime and aviation markets harmonize around solutions such as sustainable crop-based biofuels because of the failure of the FuelEU regulations.

 

Nisga'a Nation forms mine royalty company

North of 60 Mining News - February 2, 2024

Pretium Resources Inc.

Ultrahigh-grade gold permeates a rock sample collected from Brucejack– a Northern B.C. mine that represents one of the five royalties that Nisga'a Nation is transferring to Nations Royalty.

Nations Royalty is positioned to be Canada's largest business majority owned by a First Nation, significant player in realm of mining royalties.

Leveraging royalties it has received through benefits agreements for mine projects in Northern British Columbia, the Nisga'a Nation is forming a Canadian First Nations mining royalty company for Indigenous people.

The Nisga'a Nation's lands and treaty area covers nearly 27,000 square kilometers (10,400 square miles) at the southern tip of B.C.'s prolific Golden Triangle. In recent years, the northwestern B.C. First Nation has accumulated significant royalties through benefit agreements with companies exploring and developing five mine projects in its region.

On Feb. 1, the Nisga'a Nation finalized a deal to transfer these annual benefit payment entitlements to Vega Mining Inc. in exchange for Vega shares. As a result of the transaction, Vega will be majority-owned by the Nisga'a Nation and renamed Nations Royalty Corp.

"Our people have a history of leadership and innovation, from significant legal victories to the first Modern Treaty in British Columbia," said Nisga'a Lisims Government President Eva Clayton. "Today, we embark on this new venture with Indigenous groups and leaders from the mining industry to promote cooperation and progress, ushering in a new era in Indigenous business, as well as Canada's mining and natural resources sector."

Rob McLeod, a third-generation miner from the town of Stewart within the Nisga'a region and with deep family ties to Nisga'a leadership, will serve as interim president and CEO of Nations Royalty.

Mining magnate Frank Giustra is a strategic advisor to the First Nations-owned royalty company.

"I am honored to collaborate with the Nisga'a and other First Nations in establishing this essential new company," Giustra said. "Almost two decades ago, I played a role in developing the metals streaming concept as a co-founder of Wheaton Precious Metals and I see Nations Royalty as a vitally important successor to this concept."

Strong royalty foundation

Nations Royalty will be built on a foundation of five royalties Nisga'a Nation holds on one operating gold mine, one gold mine ramping up to operation in the coming months, and three advanced-stage mineral exploration and mine development projects.

These projects for which Nisga'a Nation holds royalties include:

• Brucejack – a high-grade gold mine operated by Pretium Resources Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Newmont Corp, the largest gold mining company in the world. This mine produces nearly 300,000 ounces of gold per year.

• Premier and Red Mountain – a mining operation being developed by Ascot Resources Ltd. that is slated to reach commercial production in the coming months. This mine is expected to produce roughly 1.1 million oz of gold and 3 million oz of silver over the first eight years.

• KSM – a world-class mine project being developed by Seabridge Gold Inc. that is slated to produce more than 1 million oz of gold, 3 million oz of silver, 178 million lbs of copper and 4.2 million lbs of molybdenum annually for 33 years.

• Kitsault molybdenum deposit – a large and fully permitted brownfield site being actively advanced by New Moly LLC. Nisga'a Lisims Government is having preliminary discussions with mining companies on the idea of a hub and spoke mill at the site of the Kitsault.

"Our portfolio of royalties are from Tier 1 and Tier 2 assets equally diversified across gold and copper, providing a strong foundation to grow the company," said Nisga'a Lisims Government Secretary-Treasurer Charles Morven. "Our objective is to establish the Company as a long-term, dividend-paying cornerstone investment for the Nisga'a Nation."

Diversifying Indigenous royalties

The Nations Royalty benefits are expected to extend well beyond the Nisga'a Nation. The company is already in discussions with other First Nations and Indigenous groups to join the company in the near future, marking a transformative moment in Canada's mining landscape, characterized by unity, empowerment, and a shared vision for the future.

"We look forward to collaborating with First Nations across Canada and Indigenous communities worldwide, as well as outside shareholders, through Nations Royalty," said Morvan.

Building on the strong foundation laid with the Nisga'a royalties, Giustra sees Nations Royalty as a way for other Indigenous groups to expand and diversify their potential gains by pooling the royalties held in various regions of Canada and potentially in places like Alaska, where Indigenous groups hold royalties on lands owned by Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) regional and village corporations.

"Through the vision of combining additional Indigenous held royalties, Nations Royalty will provide an opportunity for Indigenous groups across Canada and potentially globally, to achieve diversification through different regions and commodities," he said.

Giustra also sees Nations Royalty as a vehicle to inspire Indigenous entrepreneurs and companies to participate in capital markets across various industries while also providing a collective Indigenous voice to sustainable mining practices.

"A core focus of the company is to build capacity for Indigenous people in the management of public companies and capital markets, which we hope will result in the creation of additional Indigenous economic ventures," he said. "The company is positioned to set new benchmarks in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, benefiting indigenous groups, investors, and capital markets."

Details of the deal

Vega Mining, a company formerly listed as a metals and mining company on the TSX Venture Exchange, is basically a shell company for the formation of Nations Royalty.

To transform Vega into Nations Royalty, the idling company will issue shares in exchange for the Nisga'a Nation royalties. At the same time, Vega will raise C$10 million through the issuance of 11.11 million shares at C90 cents per share. As a result of these transactions, Nisga'a Nation will own 76.5%, current Vega shareholders will own 15.9%, and investors in the financing will own 7.6% of Nations Royalty.

"This transaction allows us to bring forward the future value of our royalties and retain the net-asset value (NAV) multiple and diversification afforded to public royalty companies," said Morven.

Nations Royalty's board will consist of six directors, four nominated by Nisga'a Nation and two independent directors – Matthew Coon Come and Alex Morrison.

Coon Come gained international recognition during his tenure as the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations from 2000 to 2003, where his dedication to indigenous self-determination and commitment to bridging gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities have left a lasting legacy in the ongoing struggle for Indigenous rights and reconciliation in Canada and worldwide. In 2018, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada for his exceptional contributions. He currently serves as a director of Seabridge Gold, and previously served on the boards of Newmont and Goldcorp Inc.

Vega Mining Inc.

Mines and development projects within the Nisga'a Nation region of northwestern B.C.

Morrison is an experienced mining executive with more than 35 years of experience. He has vast multidisciplinary experience in senior strategic roles in finance, accounting, information technology, supply chain, risk management, and operations support at Newmont Mining, Homestake Mining, Phelps Dodge, and Stillwater Mining. His most relevant experience for Nations Royalty is his former role as chief financial officer at Franco Nevada, a leading international gold royalty company. He has held diverse corporate director, chairman, and lead director roles for a broad list of mining companies, including Detour Gold, Taseko Mines, Energy Fuels, Gold Standard Ventures, and Gold Resource Corp. He is a chartered professional accountant.

McLeod, who played a pivotal role in the formation of Nations Royalty, is expected to be named as interim president and CEO.

It is the goal of Nations Royalty, however, to be managed and run by Indigenous people.

Upon the completion of the transaction, Nations Royalty's management team will include individuals possessing extensive expertise in Indigenous engagement, benefit agreement negotiations, finance, technical due diligence, and marketing, with a strong emphasis on Indigenous leadership at the forefront.

Author Bio

Shane Lasley, Publisher

Over his more than 15 years of covering mining and mineral exploration, Shane has become renowned for his ability to report on the sector in a way that is technically sound enough to inform industry insiders while being easy to understand by a wider audience.

World's largest cruise ship sets sail, bringing concerns about methane emissions

Sat, January 27, 2024
By Doyinsola Oladipo

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The world's largest cruise ship is set for its maiden voyage on Saturday, but environmental groups are concerned that the liquefied natural gas-powered vessel - and other giant cruise liners to follow - will leak harmful methane into the atmosphere.

Royal Caribbean International's Icon of the Seas sets sail from Miami with capacity for 8,000 passengers across 20 decks, taking advantage of the surging popularity of cruises.

The ship is built to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG), which burns more cleanly than traditional marine fuel but poses greater risks for methane emissions. Environmental groups say methane leakage from the ship's engines is an unacceptable risk to the climate because of its short-term harmful effects.

"It's a step in the wrong direction," said Bryan Comer, director of the Marine Program at the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), an environmental policy think tank.

"We would estimate that using LNG as a marine fuel emits over 120% more life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than marine gas oil," he said.

In terms of warming effects, methane is 80 times worse over 20 years than carbon dioxide, making cutting those emissions key to holding down global temperature warming.

Cruise ships like Icon of the Seas use low-pressure, dual-fuel engines that leak methane into the atmosphere during the combustion process, known as "methane slip," according to industry experts. There are two other engines used on bulk carriers or container ships that emit less methane but they are too tall to fit in a cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean says its new ship is 24% more efficient when it comes to carbon emissions than required by global shipping regulator the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

LNG emits fewer greenhouse gases than very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) that powers most of the global shipping fleet, said Steve Esau, chief operating officer of Sea-LNG, a industry advocacy organization.

Cruise engines convert natural gas into power in a cylinder, where it is "important to make sure that all the natural gas is converted to energy," said Juha Kytölä, director of R&D and Engineering at Wärtsilä, which developed the cruise ship's engines.

What is not converted can escape during the combustion process into the atmosphere, he said, adding that Wärtsilä's natural gas engine technology emits 90% less methane than it did 20 to 30 years ago.

Cruise ship engines have an estimated methane slip of 6.4% on average, according to 2024 research funded by the ICCT and other partners. The IMO assumes methane slip at 3.5%.

"Methane is coming under more scrutiny," said Anna Barford, Canada shipping campaigner at Stand Earth, a nonprofit organization, noting that the IMO last summer said its efforts to cut greenhouse gases includes addressing methane emissions.

Of the 54 ships on order from January 2024 to December 2028, 63% are expected to be powered by LNG, according to the Cruise Line International Association. Currently, about 6% of the 300 cruise ships sailing are fueled by LNG.

Newer cruise ships are being designed to run on traditional marine gas oil, LNG or alternatives like bio-LNG that only account for a fraction of U.S. fuel consumption.

Royal Caribbean will use different fuels as the market evolves, said Nick Rose, the company's vice president of environmental, social, and governance.

"LNG is one piece of our actual strategy," he said.

(Reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Mark Porter)


Icon of the Seas: World's largest cruise ship sets sail from Miami
BBC
Sun, January 28, 2024 at 7:51 AM MST·3 min read
22


The world's largest cruise ship has set sail from Miami, Florida, on its maiden voyage, but there are concerns about the vessel's methane emissions.

The 365m-long (1,197 ft) Icon of the Seas has 20 decks and can house a maximum of 7,600 passengers. It is owned by Royal Caribbean Group.

The vessel is going on a seven-day island-hopping voyage in the Caribbean.

Environmentalists warn the liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ship will leak harmful methane into the air.

Built at a shipyard in Turku, Finland, the Bahamas-registered ship has seven swimming pools and six water slides.

It cost $2bn (£1.6bn) to build and also has more than 40 restaurants, bars and lounges.

The cruise ship boasts seven swimming pools, many bars and restaurants and a funfair on the top deck

Although LNG burns more cleanly than traditional marine fuels such as fuel oil, there is a risk that some gas escapes, causing methane to leak into the atmosphere.

Methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

"It's a step in the wrong direction," Bryan Comer, director of the Marine Programme at the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

"We would estimate that using LNG as a marine fuel emits over 120% more life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than marine gas oil," he said.

Earlier this week, the ICCT released a report arguing that methane emissions from LNG-fuelled ships were higher than current regulations assumed.

A sculpture of a swimmer hangs above an internal courtyard - known as "Central Park" on the ship

A powerful greenhouse gas, methane in the atmosphere traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide over 20 years. Cutting these emissions is seen as crucial to slowing down global warming.

Royal Caribbean says the Icon of the Seas is 24% more energy efficient than required by the International Maritime Organization for modern ships. The company plans to introduce a net-zero ship by 2035.

The cruise industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of tourism, with young people in particular interested in cruise holidays, according to the trade body Cruise Lines International Association.

It said that the cruise industry contributed $75bn (£59bn) to the global economy in 2021.

The onboard water park is dubbed "Thrill Island"

On Thursday, Argentina's World Cup winning captain Lionel Messi, who currently plays for Inter Miami, took part in the ship's naming ceremony.

He was seen placing a football on a specially built stand to trigger the traditional "good luck" breaking of a champagne bottle against the vessel's bow.
Quick facts about the Icon of the Seas

The Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world, weighing 250,800 tonnes with a length of nearly 365 meters (1,198 ft). That's about five times larger than the Titanic

The ship itself cost Royal Caribbean International a hefty price of €1.65bn ($1.79bn; £1.41bn) to build and acquire

Tickets range from $1,723 to $2,639 per person, according to Royal Caribbean's website. A high-season cruise around Christmas will set you back $5,124 per person

Its maiden voyage will stop in Saint Kitts and Nevis and Charlotte Amalie in the US Virgin Islands.

World's largest cruise ship ready to set sail from Miami in maiden passenger voyage

Mike Heuer
Sat, January 27, 2024 

Cruise line Royal Caribbean's 1,198-foot Icon of the Seas is the world's largest cruise ship and was scheduled to set sail from Miami on its first passenger voyage on Saturday. File Photo provided by Royal Caribbean


Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Royal Caribbean's 1,198-foot-long Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship with a gross tonnage of 250,800, was ready to set sail on its maiden passenger voyage from Miami on Saturday.

It was scheduled to depart from Miami at 5 p.m. ET on a seven-day, round-trip voyage to the Eastern Caribbean.

Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi officially christened the ship on Tuesday. It features 20 decks and can hold about 10,000 passengers and crew, according to the cruise line.

The $2 billion Icon of the Seas was built in Turku, Finland, and earlier this month sailed to the Port of Miami to prepare for its first voyage with passengers.

The 20-deck ship has a curved parabolic bow that reduces waves and makes the vessel more stable and uses liquid natural gas to fuel its engines. More than 90% of its freshwater supply is produced using a reverse-osmosis system, and a microwave-assisted pyrolysis system converts waste into energy to help power the ship.

The vessel features several performance theaters, more than 40 bars, restaurants and lounges, and special cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks that were created for the Icon of the Seas, USA Today reported. It also has a water park and several designated "neighborhoods" for passengers of different age groups, including an adults-only area.

Some of the Icon of the Seas' superlatives include the world's largest water park at sea, the first cantilevered infinity pool at sea, the largest ice arena at sea and the largest swimming pool at sea.

The Icon of the Seas gives Royal Caribbean the world's two largest cruise ships. Royal Caribbean launched the Wonder of the Seas in 2022, which measures 1,188 feet in length and has a gross tonnage of 235,600.

The Icon of the Seas debuts the newest class of cruise ship for Royal Caribbean.

Watch: World’s largest cruise ship sets sail from Miami

Billal Rahman
Sat, January 27, 2024 

Watch as the Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas embarks on its maiden voyage from Miami on Saturday, 27 January.

The 1,198-foot (365-meter) vessel is the world’s largest cruise ship and has 20 decks with a maximum capacity of 10,000 people.

The ship, which comes with a 55ft indoor waterfall, is longer than the Eiffel Tower and called the “biggest, baddest ship on the planet” by Royal Caribbean president Jason Liberty.

But the ship has been ridiculed on social media, having been described as a “human lasagne.”

Despite running on the “cleanest-burning marine fuel” Royal Caribbean came in second place on Friends of the Earth’s list of polluters in the cruise industry in 2022, leading to climate activists to accuse the company of greenwashing.

The company claimed the “eco-friendly” vessel is built to run on electricity supplied from shore when it is docked, which is a more environmentally sustainable alternative to running highly polluting generators.

The ship’s departure follows several European cities, such as Venice, Barcelona, and Amsterdam, introducing restrictions on cruise ships in their ports to curb their environmental impact.