01-2026 Newsletter Task 37
Newsletter IEA Bioenergy Task 37: 01/2026
Renewable Transport Fuels: 1. Shipping
Topics:
- IEA Bioenergy Workshop Zero Emission Shipping
- Green fuel alliance launched at Hong Kong shipping summit
- Yokohama Port to waive entrance fees for biofuel-using vessels
- The LNG Pathway: Mid-Year Market Review
- First bioLNG supply to a cruise ship at the Port of Barcelona
- Axpo successfully completes Spain’s first ship-to-ship Bio-LNG bunkering
- Baleària switches three ferries to full bioLNG through 2025
- First Bio-LNG ship-to-ship fueling completed at Long Beach
- Gasum provides Bio-LNG for the first completely carbon neutral shipping route on the Baltic Sea
- Wallenius SOL signs bio-LNG deal with Gasum
- Viking Line starts to run vessels on Bio-LNG
- Anthony Veder and Gasum expand partnership to advance FuelEU Maritime compliance with Bio-LNG
- Six ferry operators turn to bioLNG as north European fuel shift advances
- In Norway, the first biomethane-powered cruise ship set sail at the end of November 2025.
- Seaspan Energy & Anew Climate partner to deliver lower carbon marine fuel
- Hapag-Lloyd and Shell partner for long-term bio-LNG
- LNG continues to dominate new orders for alternative ships
- The stage is set for the next phase of the maritime energy transition
- Norway and Iceland delay planned FuelEU Maritime entry to later in 2026
- China, India, and Brazil join green shipping corridor
IEA Bioenergy Workshop Zero Emission Shipping
The maritime sector is responsible for approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and as such is similar in impact as the global aviation sector. Up to recently, the regulatory developments and priorities on mitigating climate change impacts seemed to lay behind in comparison to the activities in the Aviation sector. However, in April 2025, the IMO – International Maritime Organisation – made an important leap forward at the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83) meeting where the Committee finalized and approved the draft legal text for the “IMO Net-Zero Framework”, to be included as a new chapter in Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. However, as a result of an unprecedent pressure of the US government and Saudi Arabia, the adoption of the draft amendments at the extra-ordinary session of MEPC in October 2025 has been paused for at least one year. Nevertheless, the development towards regulations that sets direction for climate mitigation in the international shipping sector will continue. The Workshop organized by IEA Bioenergy of last November gives an excellent overview on the status. Task 37 leader Bernhard Drosg focused in his contribution on Bio-LNG as a shipping fuel.
Green fuel alliance launched at Hong Kong shipping summit
In Hong Kong, World Ports Organization reported the newly launched International Green Fuel Alliance brought together more than 30 maritime, energy, and certification players from 10 countries on November 17, 2025. The alliance aims to turn green hydrogen derivatives, including ammonia, methanol, SAF, and biofuels, into globally tradable commodities. With marine demand for biodiesel, RNG, and methanol already topping 246 million tons, organizers project that sustainable fuels could cover 35 percent of the sector’s energy needs by 2035.
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Yokohama Port to waive entrance fees for biofuel-using vessels
In Japan, the city of Yokohama Port and Harbor Bureau from January 1, 2026 will launch an incentive program, the first of its kind in Japan, for methanol-fueled vessels and biofuel-using vessels that will waive 100% of entrance fees, similar to LNG vessels. The goals are to promote the International Container Strategic Port Policy and to strengthen our portʼs automobile cargo handling capacity, which is the largest in eastern Japan.
The LNG Pathway: Mid-Year Market Review
Industry coalition, SEA-LNG has published a new report titled ‘The LNG Pathway: Mid-Year Market Review’ – evaluating the state of play for LNG, liquefied biomethane (LBM), and e-methane – as well as presenting initial analysis of why LNG dual-fuel engines offer the best returns under the IMO Net-Zero Framework. Following the trajectory of 2024, demand for LNG-fueled vessels has continued in 2025. In the first six months of 2025, 87 new LNG dual fuel vessels were ordered, up from 53 in the corresponding period in 2024. There is now a total of 1,369 LNG dual fuel vessels in operation and on order, according to data from SEA-LNG member DNV. Most of the 2025 orders have been for large container ships, with the gross tonnage.
First bioLNG supply to a cruise ship at the Port of Barcelona
The barge Haugesund Knutsen supplies 1,875 m3 of ISCC certified liquefied biomethane, sourced from the on-site Enagás regasification terminal. bioLNG to the TUI Cruises vessel in the first ship-to-ship biofuel supply operation at the Port of Barcelona. The operation marks a shift in both fuel and logistics. Unlike a previous truck-based bioLNG transfer at the port in March, the ship-to-ship method boosts volume more than fifteenfold and reduces bunkering time, key advantages for tight cruise turnarounds. With 23 percent of cruise calls at Barcelona already fueled by LNG, the port is positioned to support a broader transition to renewable alternatives.
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Axpo successfully completes Spain’s first ship-to-ship Bio-LNG bunkering
The Swiss company Axpo has successfully completed Spain’s first ship-to-ship Bio-LNG bunkering operation at the Port of Algeciras in the large container shipping industry, further solidifying its leadership in sustainable marine fuels. A volume of over 4,000 cubic meters of ISC-certified Bio-LNG were delivered to the CMA CGM FORT BOURBON, a volume marking a significant milestone in the decarbonization of the maritime industry
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Baleària switches three ferries to full bioLNG through 2025
In Spain, on October 2, Baleària announced it is exclusively fueling the Ro-Pax ferries Margarita Salas, Abel Matutes, and Rusadir with 132 gigawatt-hours (450,000 MMBtu) of bioLNG through December 2025. The three dual-fuel vess els now operate with zero emissions on the Barcelona to Alcúdia to Ciutadella and Málaga to Melilla routes. The fuel, produced from livestock waste methane, is processed at Enagás regasification plants in Huelva, Barcelona, and Cartagena.
First Bio-LNG ship-to-ship fueling completed at Long Beach
In California, Anew Climate and Seaspan Energy have completed the first ship-to-ship fueling of Bio-LNG for a commercial container vessel at the Port of Long Beach. The October 21 operation marks a key demonstration of Bio-LNG’s viability as a low-carbon marine fuel on the West Coast.
The renewable natural gas was sourced from a Morrow Energy facility and certified under the ISCC framework with a carbon intensity of 7.74 grams of CO₂e per megajoule. The bunkering follows a strategic agreement between the companies to scale Bio-LNG deployment in maritime transport.
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Gasum provides Bio-LNG for the first completely carbon neutral shipping route on the Baltic Sea
Nordic energy company Gasum and Finnish shipping company Wasaline have agreed that Gasum will provide only liquefied biogas (Bio-LNG) to Wasaline’s vessel Aurora Botnia going forward. The vessel operated by Stena Line transports passengers and freight daily across the Baltic Sea between the port of Vaasa in Finland and the port of Umeå in Sweden. Stena Line is one of Europe’s leading ferry companies Stena Line operating 40 vessels and 20 routes in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean Sea.
Wallenius SOL signs bio-LNG deal with Gasum
In Sweden, Wallenius SOL said on October 8 that it signed a supply agreement with Gasum to fuel its Botnia Enabler and Baltic Enabler Con-Ro vessels with bio-LNG. The deal allows both ships to operate on certified renewable fuel instead of fossil LNG, in line with the company’s Climate Roadmap. The bio-LNG, certified under RED II and traceable through ISCC, is delivered through Gasum’s pooling system, which spreads renewable fuel across multiple shipping customers and vessels. Wallenius SOL began bunkering the vessels with bioLNG in early October without modifying onboard systems.
Viking Line starts to run vessels on Bio-LNG
Viking Line has started to run it’s two ro-ro vessels Viking Glory and Viking Grace on Bio-LNG in order to generate compliance for Gasum’s FuelEU Maritime (FEUM) pooling service.
Viking Grace and Viking Glory both sail daily between the Finnish Port of Turku and Swedish City of Stockholm transporting cargo and passengers across the Baltic Sea. The regular route brings valuable predictability to the amount of compliance generated for the pool. This new deal enables Viking Lines to increase the Bio-LNG use to 50 percent.
Anthony Veder and Gasum expand partnership to advance FuelEU Maritime compliance with Bio-LNG
Nordic energy company Gasum and gas shipping company Anthony Veder are expanding their partnership to meet FuelEU Maritime requirements and drive emission reductions at sea. Two Anthony Veder LNG carriers that are chartered by Gasum, Coral Energy and Coral EnergICE, will be sailing on Bio-LNG, contributing compliance surplus to Gasum’s FuelEU Maritime pool.
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Six ferry operators turn to bioLNG as north European fuel shift advances
In northern Europe, Rivera Maritime News reports six ferry operators have signed bioLNG supply agreements: TT-Line, Viking Line, Wasaline, Destination Gotland, Stena Line, and Avenir LNG. Fuel supplier Gasum plays a central role in several of these deals through its FuelEU Maritime pooling service, which channels waste-based bio-LNG into short-sea routes facing tightening climate rules. TT-Line committed to long-term use after a 40-tonne trial bunkering on Peter Pan in Travemünde. The bio-LNG, produced by EnviTec Biogas from poultry manure, slurry, and food waste, now fuels both Peter Pan and sister ship Nils Holgersson.
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In Norway, the first biomethane-powered cruise ship set sail at the end of November 2025.
Norwegian cruise operator Havila Voyages is preparing to launch the first biogas-powered coastal cruise between Bergen and the Arctic. Scheduled to depart from Bergen on November 30, the twelve-day voyage took place aboard the Havila Polaris. To complete the crossing, the ship was refueled with bioLNG at two strategic locations: first in Hammerfest, with 200 m³ delivered to the Polarbase logistics base, then in Bergen, where an additional 150 m³ was added. This volume, combined with the ship’s electrical energy storage capacity, should be sufficient to cover the entire journey. The cruise will call at 34 ports, some of which are above the Arctic Circle. The use of biogas will help improve air quality in these areas, notably by eliminating nitrogen oxide and sulfur emissions, which are generally associated with conventional marine fuels. Havila Cruises currently operates four hybrid ships, combining LNG and high-capacity batteries. The company’s ambition is to gradually transition to a fleet powered entirely by biomethane by 2028.
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Seaspan Energy & Anew Climate partner to deliver lower carbon marine fuel
Seaspan Energy (Seaspan) and Anew Climate (Anew) have entered into a strategic agreement to offer delivery of renewable liquefied natural gas (R-LNG; Bio-LNG) to customers on the North American West Coast. As part of the service offering, Anew will supply renewable natural gas (RNG) certified by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) and provide pre-audit services to Seaspan required for ISCC certification. The RNG will comply with global standard frameworks like the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Net-Zero Framework and the FuelEU Maritime Regulation in the European Union.
Hapag-Lloyd and Shell partner for long-term bio-LNG
Hapag-Lloyd and Shell have signed a multi-year deal to use liquefied biomethane as a fuel source for Hapag-Lloyd’s vessels. The deal aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping and promote the use of renewable energy sources. This development is particularly notable as it follows the launch of Acorn Bioenergy’s Three Maids biomethane facility, which is part of Qualitas Energy’s strategy to develop a leading platform for renewable natural gas production in the UK. The Three Maids facility alone is expected to generate enough renewable natural gas to heat over 9,000 homes and save around 30,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.
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LNG continues to dominate new orders for alternative ships
Monthly data published by the Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform of the classification society DNV shows that liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships continue to account for the bulk of alternative orders. Of the 14 ships ordered in September, 12 will use this fuel. In the first nine months of 2025, 192 orders for alternative fuel ships were recorded. Although the market is down 48% compared to the same period in 2024, LNG remains in the lead with 121 orders. Next come methanol (43 ships), LPG (19), ammonia (5), and hydrogen (4).
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The stage is set for the next phase of the maritime energy transition
By 2030 alternative-fueled ships will have the capacity to consume more than 50 Mtoe per year of low-GHG fuels (excluding biofuels). While shipping is approaching a fuel transition tipping point, this needs to be matched by increased low-GHG fuel supply. With the number of alternative-fueled vessels in operation set to almost double by 2028, sending a strong demand signal to fuel producers and related industries to speed up their progress.
Norway and Iceland delay planned FuelEU Maritime entry to later in 2026
FuelEU maritime sets maximum limits for the yearly average greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of the energy used by ships above 5,000 gross tonnage calling at European ports, regardless of their flag. Targets will ensure that the greenhouse gas intensity of fuels used in the sector will gradually decrease over time, starting with a 2% decrease by 2025 and reaching up to an 80% reduction by 2050. The targets cover not only CO2 but also methane and nitrous oxide emissions over the full lifecycle of the fuels used onboard, on a well-to-wake (WtW) basis. To reduce air pollution in ports, passenger and container ships at berth or moored at the quayside must use on-shore power supply (OPS) or alternative zero-emission technologies from 1 January 2030 onwards. Due to delays in the process of incorporating the FuelEU maritime regulation into the EEA Agreement, the application of the regulation will be delayed in Norway and Iceland. This means that Norwegian and Icelandic ports will be regarded as third-country ports in a FuelEU context from 1 January 2025 until the incorporation of FuelEU in the EEA Agreement.
China, India, and Brazil join green shipping corridor
In Denmark, the Global Maritime Forum reports that 25 new green shipping corridors were launched in 2025, bringing the total to 84 worldwide. The latest initiatives include new efforts in China, India, and Brazil, where governments and industries are positioning to build zero-emission trade routes despite uncertainty around global climate rules. The findings come from this year’s Green Shipping Corridors Annual Progress Report, published by the Getting to Zero Coalition. The report highlights growing momentum among developing economies to invest in clean marine fuels, infrastructure, and vessel deployment. Four corridors have now reached the realization stage, with ships, bunkering terminals, or fuel plants under construction or in operation.