Latest News
-
From corn fields and cargo ships, early interest in ethanol as a marine fuel
Maersk, Vale and other shippers are using ethanol to reduce emissions. Its abundant supply and low cost make it more appealing than other fuels with lower carbon content. Further commercial use is expected to begin as soon as next year. The use of ethanol for shipping could 'open up a new market for the fuel which is?in certain countries blended with gasoline. It also offers shipowners a way to reduce conventional fuel use in order to meet emissions reduction targets. The global shipping industry is under increasing pressure to manage the uncertainty of oil prices as the hostilities in Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz - a vital waterway - highlight the risks of conventional fuel supply. Chris Chatterton is a maritime advisor at the Global Centre for Green Fuels. The unique thing about ethanol is that, in this context, it can be blended into methanol and used on vessels already equipped with methanol. This does not require a major retrofit or a capital investment to implement a single fuel strategy. The shipping industry has been testing alternative fuels to oil, including ammonia and biodiesel. ETHANOL TESTS ON SHIPS EQUIPPED W/METHANOL ENGINES Maersk, a shipping group, completed its first two voyages using 100% ethanol last week. This follows earlier tests with 10% and 50% blends of ethanol on a vessel that was designed to run either on methanol or on fuel oil. Maersk sees ethanol as an addition to methanol which has been gaining popularity in recent years?as a shipping fuel alternative, though green methanol is still in limited supply. Maersk's spokesperson said that ethanol is a good candidate for exploration because of its established global market, existing infrastructure and similar properties to methanol. Singapore-based shipping company X-Press Feeders has said that it also tested a marine fuel mixture consisting of 90% methanol and 10% ethanol on a container ship in Rotterdam. Vale in Brazil, which transports iron ore by ship, has signed a contract with China's Shandong Shipping Corp for the construction of two vessels that can run on ethanol, heavy fuel oil, or methanol. According to Everllence, a Swiss engine manufacturer, ethanol can be used in existing methanol compatible engines without major retrofits. DNV data shows that the number of vessels capable of using methanol is expected to increase from 107 by 2025 to 450 in 2030. Around 313 of the 450 vessels on order are newbuilds. Chatterton, GCGF's Chatterton, said that green methanol, derived renewable resources, faces near term supply constraints. Chatterton stated that "Maersk is explicit in its assertion that methanol is one of the main challenges to scaling up alternative fuels. That is why ethanol has been introduced." CORN AVAILABLE IN BRAZIL AND THE U.S. The main feedstock for ethanol is corn. Top producers like the U.S.A. and Brazil have plenty of it. Methanol conventionally produced is derived from fossil-fuels. As yields per acre increase, the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects a domestic corn supply of 17 billion bushels in 2025-2026. This is the highest ever. The Renewable Fuels Association (a U.S. group of ethanol producers) said that if ethanol captured 5% market share in the marine fuels sector, it would increase corn demand by up to 1.5 billion bushels and demand for 4 billion to 5 billion gallons. Growth Energy, a U.S. trade group for biofuels, has been lobbying for tax rules to encourage the use of more ethanol. ETHANOL EFFICIENCY Ethanol has around 35% more energy per kilo than methanol. This means that ships need less fuel to cover the same distance. The energy content of ethanol is still lower than conventional fuel oil, which requires about 50% more fuel to reach the same output. Depending on the location and?volume of ethanol, it is comparable to low-sulfur fuel oil (LSFO), but cheaper than green methanol. The U.S. Grains and Bioproducts Council reported that ethanol cost $700 per metric tonne on a U.S. loading base and more than $800 for imports from Asia as of early June. Industry sources?said that LSFO in Asia costs more than $750 per tonne, whereas green methanol is easily priced at over $1,000 per tonne. Chatterton anticipates that more commercial ethanol-bunkering operations will emerge in the next 12-24 months. The first to move are likely to be Brazil's Santos, and Singapore as a top bunker hub. Singapore is developing standards and infrastructure to scale up alternative marine fuels. Rostom Merzouki is the global sustainability vice-president at ABS. He said that additional early activity in the U.S. Gulf will be linked to exports driven by ethanol supply chains. Merzouki anticipates that the first-pilot operation in Northwest Europe will expand to other important bunker hubs by late 2020.
-
Indian sailors fined $6 Million in Lagos Cocaine Case
The National Drug Law Enforcement 'Agency (NDLEA), a Nigerian agency, announced on Thursday that a Nigerian court had convicted 11 Indian sailors, and their vessel, of trafficking cocaine into?country. They were fined a total of $6 million. The Federal High Court of Lagos found the crew of the merchant vessel MV Aruna Hulya to be guilty of concealing 31.5 kilograms cocaine aboard the vessel in Apapa port. The case is part of an broader crackdown on drug trafficking by Nigerian authorities through commercial entry points like Lagos. Nigeria has worked to increase?enforcement of drug trafficking networks that use Nigeria as a transit country for illicit substances bound for Europe and other market. The agency reported that the crew, including captain Sharma Shashi Bhushan, and 10 other Indian citizens, were arrested on January 2, after NDLEA operatives discovered the?drugs concealed in one of 'the ship’s storage compartments. The court found all 12 defendants guilty, including the ship itself, under Nigeria's antidrug laws. The local law also applies to the ship that transported the drugs. The drug enforcement agency's spokesman said that the defendants had accepted the terms of conviction, and the document was then presented to the judge in order for it to be sealed. The?ship had to pay restitution of $5.3 million to the Nigerian Government, and each crew member had to pay a fine?100,000. Owners of the ship are responsible for the fine, and if the owner is unable to pay it, then the vessel will be auctioned. The remaining crew members were each ordered to pay $50,000, which brings the total financial penalties to around $6 million. The total financial?penalties were about $6 million. NDLEA chairman Mohamed Buba Marwa stated that the judgment sends a powerful signal to international drug-trafficking networks.
-
After Alpine appeal, motor racing penalties in Monaco are being reviewed
On Thursday, two time penalties for pitlane speeds that cost Pierre Gasly the podium at last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix were being reviewed after it was revealed Formula One made a measurement error. In a statement made at the Barcelona-Catalunya grand prix, the Stewards stated that the Frenchman’s Renault-owned Alpine Team was able to submit a petition for review in both cases. A second hearing could be held. The stewards also accepted that there were significant new elements that they did not have at the time the decisions were made last Sunday. Alpine argued that the stewards were not aware of the issue with the timing loops at the pit lane, but that the governing FIA (Foundation One Management) and the governing FIA knew about it before the race. SPEED MEASUREMENT IS INACCURATE OR OVERESTIMATED Alpine said it also had data that showed Gasly had activated his car's speed limiter before entering pit lane, and had stayed inside the limit. The submission stated "FOM as Official Timekeeping supplier to the Competition provided evidence that distance?used in calculating F1 Official Timing was inaccurate and underestimated the speed of the Car 10 (Gasly). The Stewards confirmed that the incorrect distance measurement was only confirmed by the?FOM on Wednesday, after the race. The team also noted that they had raised concerns during the race following three initial 'pitlane speeding violations and asked race control whether there was a problem with the system. They said that "Race Control reported back that they raised the issue with the official timekeeper, and were reassured there was no problem." Gasly was third in the Monaco road race, which is a home race of sorts for him and his team. However, he was demoted to 7th after two 5-second penalties. Gasly was recorded at 60.1 kph and 60.4 km/h, when the speed limit is 60 kph. Gasly stated that he felt "absolutely broken" by the penalties, and that "a dream I've had for my entire life of being on the podium in Monaco was taken from me because of reasons I cannot understand". Red Bull's Isack Hadjar could have been reinstated, but that would be problematic, as other drivers were also penalised. Eight of the eleven teams, except for Alpine, requested to attend the virtual hearing. The final decision was still pending. "I thought in the race, it was fairly obvious." "I thought there was something strange going on, because you only get a penalty if you have two or three cars in the same race. But not if you had seven or eight," said Oscar Piastri of McLaren. It's obvious that it has affected the outcome of the race one way or the other. If I hadn't received a penalty, I would not have pitted. "They can't change the outcome now, because it has happened?before" (Gasly’s penalty). George Russell of Mercedes, who was out of points in a race that his teammate Kimi won, claimed he had pleaded to the FIA for a post-race punishment rather than the drive through he received, which could not be reversed once it had been served. (Reporting and editing by Alex Richardson, Clare Fallon, and Alan Baldwin)
-
Trump cancels strike against Iran scheduled for Thursday evening
Donald Trump, the U.S. President, announced on Thursday that he had canceled his planned strikes against Iran. This came after he threatened to 'bomb' more oil export hub Kharg Island and said he wanted to "take" it. Trump said in a Truth Social post that "based on the fact the discussions with the 'Islamic Republic of Iran were brought to the highest level of Iranian leaders - and approved", I, as the President of the United States of America, have cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings this evening against Iran. Trump claimed that "discussions" and "final points" were?approved? by the United States of America, Israel, Saudi Arabia UAE, Qatar?Turkey Pakistan Bahrain Kuwait Jordan Egypt?and?others. He said: "The Naval Blockade is in full force and effect until the 'Transaction' is finalized. The time and location of a?signing will be announced shortly." (Reporting and editing by Doina chiacu in Toronto, Susan Heavey, Ryan Patrick Jones)
-
Grupo Mexico, U.S. partner eye Argentina grain freight network in Milei privatization push
Mexico's Grupo Mexico Transportes (GMXT), has signed a contract with the United States. Wabtec, a rail technology company, will bid jointly for Argentine's state-run cargo operator Belgrano Cargas y Logistica BCYL (BCYL), a GMXT employee said on Thursday. Source requested anonymity as they were not authorized by GMXT to discuss the deal. The privatization of BCYL, which is proposed by President Javier Milei, is part of his drive to transfer state owned companies into private ownership. Argentina will soon publish the documents for the privatization of BCYL. BCYL operates three of the largest freight trains in Argentina. The company didn't respond to our request for comment. Grupo Mexico?Transportes is a unit within Grupo Mexico. This conglomerate based in Mexico. Local media reported that several other companies had also expressed an interest in bidding. Rio Tinto, Bunge,?Cargill Company, Asociacion de Cooperativas Argentinas, and Aceitera General Deheza are among the companies that have expressed interest in bidding. Argentinian firm operates?Urquiza and Belgrano freight lines that together?transport?7.5 millions tons of produce each year, of which 60% are agricultural products or derivatives. The privatization plan aims to improve 'the transport of goods, such as grains, from the north and western parts of the country to the key export ports in the Rosario region. Argentina is a major grain supplier in the world and its mining sector is growing. (Reporting and editing by Inigo Alexandre and Sanjeev Miklani; Lucila Sigal)
-
US and Canada delay opening new bridge after Trump raised concerns
U.S. president Donald Trump had threatened earlier this year to block the crossing. The U.S. government and Canada have now decided to postpone the opening of the $4.7 billion bridge that connects Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario. According to invitations, a formal ribbon-cutting was planned for Friday at the Gordie Howe international bridge. Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority: "Canada and the United States agreed to delay opening the bridge. They will take the time necessary to resolve any outstanding issues." WindsorMayor Drew Dilkens told X that although officials wanted to?see this bridge open, Canada did not have to beg for it. Pete Hoekstra is the U.S. Ambassador to Canada and he told The Detroit News that he, along with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, are leading the discussions with Canada regarding the opening of the bridge. Lutnick’s office didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. Mark Carney, Canadian Prime Minister, said that the new bridge would benefit Canadians, Americans and business people, as well as tourists, residents, and visitors for many decades. "Everyone is working hard to make sure that the bridge opens as soon as possible. No big drama. Carney stated that if it takes a bit longer, then it will take a bit longer. The White House did not comment. Trump in February said that Canada's refusal of to stock certain U.S. alcohol beverages on Canadian shelves, Canada tariffs on dairy and trade talks with China were reasons why he may not allow the bridge's opening. Matthew Moroun is the owner of a rival Ambassador Bridge that connects Detroit to Windsor. He met with Lutnick in February and had given $1 million weeks earlier to a Trump-aligned PAC. House Democrats claim that Moroun has used his influence in order to "jeopardize American trade"?to protect the bottom line of his company. Canada financed the construction of the bridge that began in 2018 because?the U.S. refused?to?pay for?it. Tolls will cover the costs over a period of 30 years. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated at a Senate Hearing last week that his department was "ready to go" for staffing the Gordie-Howe Bridge. The new bridge is expected to ease the truck traffic on the privately-owned Ambassador Bridge, which leads into Detroit. Detroit is the largest border freight port in the U.S. and Canada, with a value of $126 billion traded by trucks. According to a study by the University of Windsor, it will reduce the crossing time by 20 minutes, saving truckers $2.3billion over 30 years. In his second term, Trump has threatened Canada and dramatically increased tariffs against the U.S. neighbor to the north. Trump has said that he may not renew the free trade agreement with Mexico and Canada. Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Chizu nomiyama and Mark Porter
-
Palestinians detained in Greece pending trial over suspected Hamas connections
Legal and police sources said that Greek judges ordered Thursday the detention of a Palestinian accused?of being part of a Hamas linked network plotting attacks against Israeli targets in Europe and Asia. Authorities said that the 37-year old suspect, who denies any wrongdoing, had been detained by Greece's anti-terrorism police unit and intelligence service on Crete on 6 June. Investigators discovered that he had placed online orders for explosive materials but never received them. His lawyer said that the evidence was thin, and revealed inconsistencies. "The defendant's personality, mentality and demeanor do not resemble that of a terrorist or criminal." Spyridon Panazis, criminal defense attorney, said that he appeared to be a victim in a case based on flimsy evidence and rife with significant gaps. The arrest of two Palestinians aged 32 and 38 in Cyprus was made on 22 May. Police have confirmed that explosive materials found during searches are being investigated for possible terrorism-related activity. Sources in the Greek police claim that both cases are connected. Sources say that one of the suspects arrested in Cyprus said he believes their recruiters planned to attack Greece, Cyprus and Turkey as well as Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Thailand. They were trained on explosives. The man, 37 years old, who was arrested in Crete in 2023 arrived in Greece after living in Gaza for?years and was granted asylum. The investigation found that he had travelled to Malaysia in?2025, where he met a man who was later arrested in Cyprus. Sources claim that the detainees from Cyprus met Hamas members in Istanbul. Michalis Chrysochoidis, Greek Citizen Protection minister, told Skai?radio Wednesday that both cases are indicative of a larger network attempting to plan terrorist attacks in Europe. On Thursday, a?court?in Cyprus?ordered that the two suspects?arrested in Cyprus and a third person?be brought before a criminal?court on August 6th. The semi-official Cyprus News Agency said that they face charges related to terrorism and membership in a banned organization. (Additional reporting in Nicosia by Michele Kambas; Editing by Aiden Lewis)
-
CPC Blend oil exports reached a record of 1.83 million bpd as Tengiz restored output, according to sources
Two industry sources reported that the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) had a record oil loading of?7.187 millions metric tons (or about?1.83million barrels per day). This was due to a higher production at?Kazakhstan?s giant Tengiz?oilfield following temporary maintenance. The oil output of the Tengiz Field was reduced for several days by a malfunctioning power transformer at the end May. However, it was restored. Calculations showed that daily CPC Blend oil loads rose by 10% from April to May. In April, loadings totaled 6.314 millions tons or 1.67 million barrels per day. One source said that the CPC system saw a rise in the number of crude oil loadings from 5.45 to 6.27 millions tons in May. The volume of Russian crude oil shipped via CPC has also increased, increasing to 0.92 millions tons from 0.86million tons in April. CPC does not comment on commercial activities. CPC also increased its June export plans for CPC Blend crude from 1.45million bpd to 1.7million bpd or approximately 6.5 million tonnes for the month. They said that the revision was due to the postponement of maintenance on the Kashagan oilfield until 2027, and the recovery in production from Tengiz. Kazakhstan has stopped oil exports from Germany since May 1. The?volumes that were freed up will be diverted to the CPC route. CPC anticipates that oil shipments will increase to 72 millions tons by 2026, up from 70.5million?tons in 2020. CPC's pipeline transports more than 80% of Kazakhstan oil exports. This is mainly from large Caspian oil fields such as Tengiz and Kashagan. The crude oil is loaded on tankers at the consortium's terminal in Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka, near Novorossiysk along Russia's Black Sea Coast. CPC's shareholders include Russia, with 31%, Kazakhstan, with 20,75%, Chevron, with 15%, as well as several private companies. (Reporting and Editing by Susan Fenton).
From corn fields and cargo ships, early interest in ethanol as a marine fuel
Maersk, Vale and other shippers are using ethanol to reduce emissions. Its low cost and abundant supply make it more appealing than other fuels with lower carbon content. Further commercial use is expected to begin as soon as next year.
The use of ethanol in shipping can open up a new market for the fuel which is in some countries blended with gasoline. It also offers'shipowners' another way to reduce conventional fuel consumption to meet emission targets.
The global shipping industry is under increasing pressure to manage the uncertainty of oil prices as the hostilities in Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz - a vital waterway - highlight the risks of conventional fuel supply.
Chris Chatterton is a maritime advisor at the Global Centre for Green Fuels.
The ethanol can be blended into existing methanol ready vessels without requiring major retrofits or capital investment in a single fuel?strategy.
Shipping industry tests alternatives to fuel oil, including ammonia and biodiesel.
ETHANOL TRIALS FOR SHIPS WITH METHANOL ENGINES
Maersk, a shipping company, completed its first two 100% ethanol sailings?in the quarter and last year. This followed earlier tests on 10% and 50% blends of ethanol on a vessel that was designed to run either on methanol or on fuel oil.
Maersk sees ethanol as a complementary fuel to methanol.
Maersk's spokesperson said that ethanol is a good candidate for exploration because of its established global market, existing infrastructure and similar properties to methanol.
Singapore shipping group XPress?Feeders also said that it had tested a marine fuel mixture consisting of 90% methanol and 10% ethanol on a container ship in Rotterdam.
Vale, a Brazilian company that uses ships to transport ore, has announced a contract with China's Shandong Shipping Corp. for the construction of two vessels capable of running on ethanol, heavy fuel oil, or methanol.
According to Everllence, a Swiss engine manufacturer, ethanol can be used in existing methanol compatible engines without requiring major retrofits.
DNV data shows that the number of vessels capable of using methanol is expected to increase from 107 by 2025 to 450 in 2030. Around 313 of the 450 vessels on order are newbuilds.
Chatterton, GCGF's Chatterton, said that green methanol, derived renewable resources, faces short-term supply restrictions.
Chatterton stated that "Maersk is explicit in its assertion that methanol is a major challenge to scaling up alternative fuels. That is why ethanol has been introduced."
CORN ABUNDANT IN THE U.S. AND BRAZILIAN
The main feedstock for ethanol is corn. Top producers like the U.S.A. and Brazil have plenty of it. Methanol derived from fossil sources is conventional?methanol.
As yields per acre increase, the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects a domestic corn supply of 17 billion bushels in 2025-2026. This is the highest ever.
The Renewable Fuels Association (a U.S. group of ethanol producers) said that if ethanol captured 5% market share in the marine fuels sector, it would increase corn demand by up to 1.5 billion bushels and demand for ethanol by between 4 billion and 5 billion gallons.
Growth Energy, a U.S. trade group for biofuels, has been lobbying for tax rules to encourage the use of more ethanol.
ETHANOL EFFICIENCY
Ethanol has a higher energy content per kilogram than Methanol. This means that ships need less fuel to cover the same distance. Despite this, the energy content of ethanol is still lower than conventional fuel oil, which requires about 50% more fuel to reach the same output.
Depending on the location and volume, ethanol costs are comparable to low-sulphur conventional fuel oil (LSFO), but it is less expensive than green methanol.
The U.S. Grains and Bioproducts Council reported that ethanol cost $700 per metric tonne if it was imported from the U.S. and more than $800 if it came from Asia.
According to industry sources, LSFO in Asia can cost more than $750 per tonne, while green methanol is easily over $1,000 per tonne.
Chatterton anticipates that more commercial ethanol-bunkering operations will emerge in the next 12-24 months. The first to move are likely to be Brazil's Santos, and Singapore as a top bunker hub. Singapore is developing standards and infrastructure to scale up alternative marine fuels.
Rostom Merzouki is the global sustainability vice-president at ABS. He said that additional early activity in the U.S. Gulf will be linked to exports driven by ethanol supply chains.
Merzouki anticipates that the first-pilot operation in Northwest Europe will expand to other important bunker hubs by late 2020.
(source: Reuters)