Ship operators still carrying high sulphur fuel on their vessels should start to plan for debunkering now, advises maritime law specialist Hill Dickinson.

Korean Register (KR) has backed the use of ammonia as an alternative marine fuel with a high probability of it becoming commercialised in shipping’s push to go carbon neutral.

Public Gas Corporation of Greece (DEPA) and European Investment Bank (EIB) have signed an agreement with financing of up to EUR20m ($22m) to construct the first LNG bunkering vessel for use in Piraeus, Greece.

As questions are raised about the environmental impact of very low sulphur fuels that comply with the IMO 2020 regulation some Greek shipping executives believe that LNG or even nuclear power would be a cleaner option for the future.

Nearly a month into IMO 2020 and tales of lengthy bunkering delays, fuel quality problems, debunkering, and uneven enforcement are emerging after what appeared to be a smooth transition.

Maersk Line is set hike its bunker adjustment factor (BAF) after prices of very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) have soared with the introduction of the IMO 2020 global sulphur cap.

Inchcape Shipping Services is launching its bunker surveying services to the port of Singapore with an aim to deliver a “bundled” solution for its customers to reap cost savings.

The IMO 2020 regulation has been “implemented successfully” says IMO secretary-general Kitack Lim, with just 10 cases of compliant fuel being unavailable reported in the first 20 days.

LNG solutions firm KC LNG and cryogenic equipment supplier Cryostar have clinched a contract to build an LNG ship bunkering and truck fuelling facility in Belgium’s Antwerp port.

Russia’s Rosneft has announced that its bunkering arm RN-Bunker has commenced the sale of 0.1% ultra low sulphur marine fuel to vessels running in domestic rivers.