Flexible Fuel Strategies Crucial for Energy Transition | Mariner News

Auramarine CEO John Bergman asserts that shipping operators must adopt flexible fuel strategies to navigate the energy transition, arguing that adaptability is more critical than identifying a single “winning” fuel. This viewpoint challenges the industry’s long-standing focus on predicting future fuel dominance amidst evolving availability, pricing, and environmental regulations.

Bergman highlighted the difficulty for operators to confidently predict which fuels will be commercially viable, compliant, or even available in the coming years. He stated that the most adaptable operators will be those who integrate flexibility into their fuel strategy to respond as conditions change.

Finnish technology company Auramarine, specializing in fuel supply and auxiliary systems, offers a fuel split technology designed to enhance this flexibility. First introduced in 2019 and now installed on approximately 20 vessels, the retrofit system enables ships to seamlessly switch between different fuels, such as MGO and biofuel, using the same engine without extensive changeover procedures.

This capability significantly reduces operational downtime associated with fuel switching, offering operators enhanced agility to respond to fluctuating fuel prices or comply with dynamic emissions mandates across various maritime zones. Beyond immediate operational gains, the adoption of flexible fuel systems can mitigate long-term investment risks.

Vessels equipped with such adaptability could maintain higher asset value and attract charterers seeking future-proof compliance options, reducing the likelihood of stranded assets in a volatile regulatory environment. This strategic shift from single-fuel commitment to multi-fuel readiness provides commercial leverage and resilience against supply chain disruptions for specific alternative fuels.