Embracing the future: new horizons for marine fuels

Maritime Week Americas (#MWA25) returns to the United States in May 2025, to the fabulous new location of Tampa, on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Still the biggest and most popular marine fuels event in the whole of the Americas, MWA25 will again bring together over 250 bunker buyers, suppliers and traders – and related maritime sectors – to discuss the key issues they face today.

MWA25 will look at shipping and bunker markets throughout North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, examining traditional bunker markets and the ‘new’ fuels whose take-up is rapidly picking up pace.

Of course, traditional marine fuels are still the mainstay throughout the Americas. The conference will examine fuel quality and quantity issues and take a close look at what is happening in some of the continent’s more active markets, such as Peru and Panama.

LNG is now a mainstream marine fuel as its availability grows throughout the Americas, with Panama among the newest supply hubs. But is there potential for a backlash over LNG’s green credentials?

Biofuels are also on a fast upward trajectory, with Brazil and other countries now leading the way. But while LNG and biofuels look set to play a major role in fuelling ships for the foreseeable future, other fuels, such as methanol, ammonia and hydrogen may not be too far behind. These, and the full range of alternative fuels will be examined in depth, both during the MWA Conference and in the one-day ship.energy Alternative Fuels Course that precedes it.

More ports are now beginning to appreciate the environmental benefits of making shore power available to visiting vessels, with some – such as Miami – currently assessing the benefits of installing electric power facilities and others – such as Seattle – already planning to mandate cold ironing for cruise ships visiting the port. At the same time, more electric-powered vessels are beginning to appear, with Canada’s Montreal and Vancouver currently leading the way with new electric ferries. Meanwhile, the world’s biggest electric-powered ferry is expected to start operating between Buenos Aires in Argentina and Colonia in Uruguay by mid-2025.

As always, MWA25 will feature some exciting networking events, designed to highlight the new venue and to ensure that the delegates take every opportunity to network.

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SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES

If you believe you could make a positive contribution to the conference or training programmes, please email Llewellyn Bankes-Hughes at LBH@ship.energy to start the discussion.