Alternative Marine Fuels
Alternative Marine Fuels are the lower- and zero-carbon fuels being adopted to replace conventional heavy fuel oil and reduce shipping's greenhouse-gas emissions. The leading candidates each carry trade-offs in emissions, cost, availability, safety and engine technology: LNG (lower CO₂ but with methane-slip concerns), methanol (easier to handle, scalable, especially as green methanol), ammonia (zero-carbon at combustion but toxic and immature), biofuels (drop-in but limited supply), and longer-term hydrogen.
The shift is driven by regulation (IMO targets, EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime) and by charterers and cargo owners demanding cleaner transport. It is a defining challenge for shipping: newbuildings are increasingly ordered as dual-fuel, but no single fuel has won, bunkering infrastructure is still developing, and the “green” versions (made from renewable energy or biomass) are scarce and costly. Fuel choice now shapes vessel design, bunkering strategy and long-term competitiveness, making alternative fuels central to the industry's decarbonisation.
Shipping can't decarbonise without changing what it burns, and the fuel question — LNG, methanol, ammonia, hydrogen — is the industry's biggest, most uncertain bet. It drives newbuilding design, bunkering investment and long-term competitiveness, with regulation and cargo owners forcing the pace. No fuel has won yet, which is exactly why understanding the options matters.
What are the main alternative marine fuels?
LNG, methanol, ammonia, biofuels and, longer term, hydrogen — each with trade-offs in emissions, cost, safety and readiness.
Why order dual-fuel ships?
Because no single alternative fuel has won and infrastructure is immature, dual-fuel engines hedge by running on conventional and an alternative fuel.