
What alternatives do I have to decarbonise my fleet and not affect my business?
There is no single answer, as it will depend on many factors. However, technology offers a multitude of alternatives to advance the sustainability of the marine sector… As many as there are letters in the alphabet.
In this article, we present a guide from “A” to “Z” of fuels and issues related to alternatives to decarbonise the fleet without affecting the business. These are new technologies that facilitate energy and cost savings, as well as ways to reduce and, in the medium/long term, eliminate pollutant gas emissions from the shipping industry. This will also mean meeting the sustainability targets set by the EU and IMO, avoiding economic sanctions and port entry restrictions. There are as many letters as there are letters in the alphabet, and they can contribute to reducing emissions and meeting sustainability targets in your fleet.
From “Ammonia” to “Zero Emissions”, we present some concepts and alternatives for the decarbonisation of the shipping fleet.
A: Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen. In the shipping sector, it is investigated as an alternative engine fuel to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. It is considered a promising option for hydrogen storage and transport, as it can release hydrogen when combined with certain catalysts, making it a potential option as a clean energy carrier for use in marine propulsion systems and to reduce the not-yet-mature hydrogen storage costs.
B: Biofuels
Biofuels are produced from organic plant material and play an important role as an option to reduce well-to-tank emissions. The use of biofuels as marine engine fuels is in the research and testing phase, and in the short term may already be used commercially. In addition to being used directly in marine engines, biofuels can also be combined with other fuels or as additives to improve the characteristics of traditional fuels used in the marine sector.
C: CO2 capture
They are a promising technology. These devices allow the CO2 released by combustion engines on board ships to be captured and stored. The captured CO2 can be sold to industries that require it for their processes, such as fertiliser, cement and green alternative fuel production.
D: Digitalisation in the shipbuilding sector
Digitalisation has significantly impacted the shipping sector, improving operational efficiency and safety in maritime transport. Through the use of sensors, IoT and data analytics, ship operations can be optimised, performance and fuel consumption can be monitored, technical problems can be foreseen, logistics and fleet management can be improved, and more accurate and safer shipping solutions can be offered.
E: Energy. Offshore wind
Offshore wind energy, generated by offshore wind turbines, is a fairly mature technology in the marine sector. Moreover, the combination of offshore wind energy for the production of e-fuels offers a promising prospect to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions in shipping. Have a look at our floating and semi-submersible platform.

From A to Z
A guide of fuels and topics related to alternatives to descarbonize the fleet without affecting the business.
Download- sustainability
- marine
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José Luis Martín
Jefe de la disciplina Naval
Ingeniero naval (especialidad en máquinas marinas) y con Máster en dirección integral de proyectos por la universidad Pontificia de Comillas con 28 años de experiencia en el diseño y construcción de buques trabajando en oficinas técnicas y astilleros como diseñador, Ingeniero de proyecto, director de proyecto y director técnico. Durante su carrera profesional he dirigido el diseño de diferentes tipos de buques y artefactos marinos como buques de pasaje, buques tanque, remolcadores, rompehielos, buques de dragado y offshore plataformas de oil&gas, offshore wind y undimotriz. Actualmente, es jefe de la disciplina naval de ingeniería encargado de los recursos y apoyo técnico en los proyectos desarrollados por la disciplina.