Mineral Europa takes first commercial ship-to-ship green ammonia bunkering at Zhoushan
Shenghang Yongle delivered 1,000 tonnes on 13 October; Santos starts regular bioethanol bunkering with CMA CGM Iron
The liquefied gas carrier Shenghang Yongle supplied 1,000 tonnes of green ammonia to the ammonia-powered Mineral Europa, owned by Belgian group CMB.TECH, at the Zhoushan anchorage in China's Zhejiang province on 13 October. Jiangsu Andefu Energy Development, which led the bunker vessel's conversion, describes it as the world's first commercial ship-to-ship bunkering using green ammonia.
Shenghang Yongle was built to FKAB Marine Design's L21 design as a flexible semi-refrigerated, semi-pressurised gas carrier. Andefu ran her conversion into an ammonia bunker vessel with China Classification Society, while FKAB and cargo-handling specialist Gloryholder prepared the technical drawings. The work covered changes to the bunkering system, operating procedures, risk assessments and safety and emergency arrangements, with particular attention to ammonia's toxicity, material compatibility, low-temperature operation and leak detection.
The conversion was completed in August 2026, when the ship received the first class certificate for liquid ammonia bunkering issued by a classification society. The ammonia was carried from Andefu's tank farm in Nanjing to Zhoushan, completing a chain from production through land transport, storage and waterborne delivery to the receiving ship. "The completed bunkering operation is an important proof point for ammonia as a marine fuel," said Peter Hermansson, managing director of FKAB Marine Design.
What is happening with bioethanol at Santos?
In Brazil, CMA CGM, sugar and ethanol group Copersucar, Bunker One and the Santos Port Authority announced on 23 October the start of regular bioethanol bunkering at Santos. The first operation, on 19 October, fuelled the 13,000 teu CMA CGM Iron, whose Everllence B&W G95ME-C10.5-LGIM is the first tri-fuel engine certified to run on bioethanol. It follows a trial in July, and more CMA CGM bunkerings are planned before the end of the year.
Evolua Etanol, part of the Copersucar group, carries the fuel to Santos, where AGEO Terminais stores it, and Bunker One developed a protocol for the Santos Brasil terminal to handle bioethanol's low flash point. DNV counts 159 ships that already run methanol-ready engines that can also burn bioethanol, and more than 450 more are due by 2030. The companies put global marine fuel demand at more than 270 billion litres a year, so replacing 10% would need about 50 billion litres of bioethanol.
How far has LNG bunkering in Japan got?
In western Japan, the LNG bunkering vessel KEYS Azalea has completed her 100th operation, her operators said on 26 October, refuelling NYK's bulk carrier SG Dawn. Since her first ship-to-ship transfer in April 2024 she has served car carriers, iron ore and coal bulkers and cruise ships, and her partners estimate the LNG supplied has saved about 75,000 tonnes of CO2 compared with heavy fuel oil. Her eastern counterpart, Kaguya, completed her 200th bunkering in Ise Bay on 30 September.
This story is part of the Maritime Briefing of 30 October 2026.
