A new report from the Global Maritime Forum’s Getting to Zero Coalition has concluded that methanol and ammonia have moved from theory to reality as zero-emission shipping fuels but require a concerted push if they are to scale in line with global climate targets.
That’s the key finding of a new report from the Global Maritime Forum’s Getting to Zero Coalition, titled Beyond zero-emission pilots and demonstration projects: The status of methanol and ammonia as shipping fuels, which draws on interviews with around 40 influential industry organisations.
Since 2020, the Global Maritime Forum’s Mapping of Zero-Emission Pilots and Demonstration Projects has tracked efforts to decarbonise shipping.
The 2025 edition shifts focus to assessing methanol and ammonia, charting their progress as emerging shipping fuels and compiling industry insights. It highlights both fuels’ long-term potential while identifying the priorities needed to scale adoption and support decarbonisation planning.
Methanol, the report concludes is quickly moving from proof of concept to early scale, with more than 60 methanol-capable vessels already in operation, 300 more on order and bunkering now available at around 20 ports.
Operators report that it is relatively safe and straightforward to integrate, with retrofitting options increasingly viable. Its main limitation is not technical but logistical: the supply of green methanol remains scarce and difficult for companies to secure at scale.
Ammonia, meanwhile, is progressing rapidly towards proof of concept. The first ammonia-powered vessels have been successfully piloted, engine testing suggests emissions reductions of up to 95% from tank-to-wake, and bunkering trials are underway at major ports.
Importantly, no fundamental barriers to adoption have been identified, and operators are confident that the fuel can be introduced safely, albeit gradually, to build operational experience.
Despite these advances, the report stresses that a stronger fuel supply chain, harmonised certification systems, clear International Maritime Organization guidelines and targeted policy incentives will all be essential.
Early movers are also calling for investment in bunkering infrastructure, support for green corridors and mechanisms such as book-and-claim systems to link demand with emerging supply.
By consolidating lessons from pilots to date, the report aims to help the sector prioritise next steps in its transition. Methanol and ammonia may have arrived as fuels, but only through coordinated action from industry, policymakers and financiers will they be ready to power global shipping at the scale required in the decade ahead.
Jesse Fahnestock, director of decarbonisation at the Global Maritime Forum, said: ‘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.’
The full report can be downloaded here.
Leave a Reply