Methanol and ammonia continue to gain traction in the marine fuels sector, while the former has proven to significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the latter has proven viable for installation, a new report by non-profit Global Maritime Forum (GMF) said.
Both fuels are alternatives for ship operators to comply with lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions regulations, such as the FuelEU Maritime and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Net Zero Framework, because they can become zero-emission fuels if converted into e-fuels by using hydrogen, the report highlighted.
Methanol
The next step for methanol development is expanding the supply chain with new bunkering points in ports around the world, because it is currently insufficient for most global shipping routes, GMF said.
More than 60 methanol-capable vessels are in operation this year, with 300 more on order and bunkering available at around 20 ports.
The methanol market needs an increase in the availability of green methanol for producers, because its feedstock is scarce in the bunkering sector and new ships are already being built.
In the first half of 2025, 40 new methanol-fueled vessels were ordered, Norway-based classification agency DNV said. GMF said that when availability improves, conventional-powered vessels could retrofit to methanol at low costs, since the engines are easily adapted to the green fuel.
Ammonia
The next steps for ammonia are to confirm its safety for bunkering operations and to build a fleet of ammonia-fueled ships.
The fuel needs to be supplied on a commercial scale for bunkering in key ports, the report said. Blue ammonia, made from nitrogen and 'blue' hydrogen derived from natural gas, may play a bigger role in bunkering than green ammonia because of lower costs and greater availability before 2030.
But uncertainties about the IMO framework, which should be finalised in October, are causing engine manufacturers to hold their ammonia dual-fuel engine design. Only three ammonia-fueled vessels were ordered in the first half of 2025, DNV said.
