An infographic published by classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) shows the various future fuels that could help the shipping industry to decarbonise in line with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) 2050 target.

The IMO has set an ambitious target of cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 50 per cent by 2050 from 2008 levels. There are new and alternative fuels entering the marine market that can help owners and operators to achieve this target.

The alternative fuels have been classified by BV as carbon fuels, carbon neutral fuels, or zero carbon fuels. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is growing in popularity as a marine fuel, however, it cannot alone meet the 2050 target as it does emit some methane which is a GHG. Hydrogen and ammonia are two possible fuels for zero carbon shipping but they require safe and secure storage due to the challenges associated with handling and transportation.