Global Maritime Forum: alternative fuels rapidly progressing to commercial deployment

Ammonia approaching proof-of-concept, methanol early scale-up

Click to enlarge. GMF’s estimated maturity of marine ammonia fuel in 2025, and the pathway ahead. Fig 9 in From pilots to practice: Methanol and ammonia as shipping fuels (GMF, Aug 2025).

GMF’s new report – From pilots to practice: Methanol and ammonia as shipping fuels – finds that both ammonia and methanol fuels are now “ready” for commercial deployment (ammonia for pilots, methanol for early operations), representing a significant increase in maturity since the report’s first edition in 2020. The analysis is based on interviews with around 40 key marine organisations, and sets out a series of recommendations in order for the global industry to make a “concerted push” for scale-up to be possible from 2030. At a recent AEA webinar, report author Joe Boyland (Project Manager, GMF) previewed the report and discussed the current landscape of ammonia bunker pilots, emphasizing that each exercise had delivered valuable learnings, and the jump to proof-of-concept was not far away.

We have seen excellent progress in the development of zero-emission fuels and technologies over recent years, with methanol and ammonia having now shifted from potential solutions towards initial scale and proof of concept. However, we are only at the start of our journey and technology readiness is not enough by itself. To scale zero-emission fuels at the pace required, we need action from the International Maritime Organization, national policymakers and the industry to create the right enabling conditions; this will be just as vital as the development of the technology itself.

Jesse Fahnestock, Director of Decarbonisation at the Global Maritime Forum, in his organisation’s official press release, 19 Aug 2025

Key report findings about ammonia included:

• “Life on board [ammonia-fueled vessels] is expected to be broadly similar for most crew members, albeit more complex, particularly for those in the engine room, involved in bunkering, and first responders.”
• Integration of safety design features remains the biggest challenge for shipowners – but the required technologies and design measures are now well-established.
• “Seafarers are generally becoming more comfortable with the idea of handling ammonia as they become more familiar with the molecule.”
• “The introduction of ammonia will be gradual, emphasising that the process is ‘a marathon, not a sprint’. Operators suggest they will initially only use ammonia 25% to 50% of the time on the first ships to build up experience and test systems before considering higher usage levels. The first ammonia-capable ships are also not expected to use ammonia when manoeuvring or at port, and questions remain about when or whether this will happen.”
• “Interviewees agree that bunkering is currently the weakest link in the ammonia value chain. The key gap is infrastructure.” Opinions differ on the best approach to take to fill this gap.

From Executive Summary (Ammonia), From pilots to practice: Methanol and ammonia as shipping fuels (GMF, Aug 2025)

On the question of engine emissions, the report aligns with early engine testing results (two-stroke and four-stroke): operating on ammonia could reduce a vessel’s tank-to-wake emissions by between 90 and 95%. As noted in previous reporting, real-world operational data is still needed, and the report author add that “independent measurement would help build confidence in ammonia’s expected greenhouse gas footprint”.

Recommendations

The report provides two sets of recommendations, and the reminder that a “concerted push” is still needed to progress the maturity of these fuels. To develop the fuel supply chain and ensure that molecules are available, the report author suggest (amongst other measures) policy incentives to close the cost gap between current and alternative marine fuels, harmonised certification (particularly book-and-claim), demand aggregation to assist infrastructure roll-out, and deepening collaboration via the “green corridor” approach.

To guarantee safety and GHG benefits from the deployment of new fuels, the report author recommend that the IMO adopt robust life cycle emissions guidelines, that independent studies are commissioned to measure the real-world emissions from the first wave of commercial ammonia-powered vessels, and that knowledge sharing and standardisation (particularly around engine technologies and spare parts) are common practice.