The Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub has released a report, "Building the sustainable maritime fuel supply chain," which analyzes the likely locations for the production, export, and bunkering of alternative marine fuels. This initial report in their 'Maritime System in Transition' series pinpoints specific ports and trade lanes that are expected to lead in making sustainable fuels available.
The analysis reveals that global bunkering operations are highly concentrated, with only 19 ports accounting for approximately half of the world's current marine fuel supply. This concentration suggests that these key ports will be crucial for the initial rollout and investment in infrastructure for alternative fuels.
For freight forwarders and logistics professionals, this report indicates that early access to sustainable shipping options will likely be limited to major global bunkering hubs. Shippers looking to decarbonize their supply chains may need to prioritize routes and carriers utilizing these specific ports. This could influence vessel scheduling, port calls, and potentially lead to differentiated pricing for greener shipping services as infrastructure develops. Capacity for sustainable fuel bunkering will initially be constrained to these concentrated areas, impacting vessel routing and operational planning for carriers and, by extension, forwarders.
