It is a well-known reality that the shipping industry is at a crossroads. With the fast pace of decarbonisation regulations, from the International Maritime Organization to the EU Emissions Trading System, FuelEU Maritime, and more in the works, there is no room to slow down.
Yet, for many ship owners and operators, the path to meaningful emissions reduction is not straightforward. There remains uncertainty about which fuels will win, about the capital expenditure involved, and about whether the technology available today is genuinely ready for deployment at scale.
This uncertainty is understandable. The alternative fuels landscape is genuinely complex. Methanol, ammonia, biofuels, LNG all carry their own promises and pitfalls, their own infrastructure challenges as well as varying timelines for commercial maturity.
Industry analysis from Clarksons suggests that roughly two-thirds of the existing global fleet will not undergo major retrofits for next generation fuels, primarily because of vessel age and the economics of large-scale conversion.
For these ships, which represent the majority of the world’s commercial fleet, the question of decarbonisation deserves a solution that provides flexibility, as well as measurable emissions reduction benefits, without introducing operational risks or complexities.

A closer look at biofuels

Biofuels for the maritime industry, particularly those that are compliant with SOLAS Chapter II-2 and MARPOL Annex VI, represent one of the most immediate tools in the decarbonisation toolkit and do not require alternative design approvals.
Derived from renewable organic materials including vegetable oils, animal fats, and other waste, liquid biofuels with higher flashpoints and compatibility with existing engines offer the prospect of meaningful carbon reductions, without the high capital expenditure or time commitment of a full-scale alternative-fuel conversion. Biofuels generally require only minor modifications to fuel supply systems in the case of SOLAS Chapter II-2 compliant type fuels. Biofuels covered by ISO 8217:2024 in particular offer a valuable combination of safety, immediate emissions reduction and near zero capital expenditure, making them one of the most practical tools for short- to mid-term decarbonisation.
Some of the most viable options are Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME), which in many cases can be used as drop-in fuels. These fuels operate within existing safety and environmental frameworks. Their flash points meet SOLAS requirements, and their sulphur profiles meet MARPOL Annex VI obligations. With careful system integration, ships can transition to these fuels without dry docking, without major modifications to tanks or engines, and without the extended downtime that some retrofits require.
The regulatory incentive for biofuel uptake is also sharpening. Under the EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime, vessels calling at European ports face direct financial exposure based on their greenhouse gas intensity. For operators managing compliance across a mixed fleet where some vessels need to immediately comply with EU regulations while others do not, biofuels offer a viable bridge strategy. They deliver measurable emissions reductions today, support compliance, and do so at a fraction of the capital cost of alternative fuel vessel conversion.

What is holding shipping back?

Despite these advantages, biofuel adoption in the maritime industry has not been as rapid as the opportunity warrants. The hesitation is partly economic – HVO in particular carries a cost premium over conventional fuels, although that premium has been narrowing in part due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East – but it is also deeply technical.
For ship owners and operators, understanding how a given biofuel will behave in practice is an important part of making any decision.
Questions around viscosity profiles and how heaters must be adjusted for high viscosity raw vegetable oils, for example, are all worth exploring early. Similarly, cold flow properties of HVO and FAME, and when coolers or closed cooling circuits may be required to prevent wax precipitation or cold filter plugging, are also areas where early guidance can make a real difference. It is also worth being aware that paraffinic fuels such as HVO can promote asphaltene precipitation when mixed with heavy fuel oil during changeovers, and understanding what that means for filtration management can help avoid operational disruption ahead of time.
These concerns reflect the technical realities of decarbonisation and determine whether biofuel adoption succeeds or fails in practice. They are precisely the kinds of questions that serious, sustained research and development into fuel properties, into fuel supply system design, into the interaction between different biofuel types and existing onboard equipment, is designed to answer.
This research has helped the company develop a much clearer picture of both the risks involved in biofuel use and the practical measures available to manage them. Good handling and storage practices, for example, go a long way towards reducing the risk of fires and explosions, including the use of appropriate containers, gas detection systems and spill containment measures, along with maintaining proper ventilation and keeping biofuels away from ignition sources.
Well-designed training and education programmes for crew and shore-based teams, covering safe biofuel handling as well as emergency response for potential spills or incidents, also play an important role in supporting both safety and long-term operational confidence.
For ship owners, the value of this R&D investment is seen in the confidence it generates. When a fuel supply system supplier can demonstrate, through rigorous testing and documented performance data that their equipment has been designed and validated to handle biofuels, the decision to invest becomes substantially easier. The uncertainty is reduced and the perceived risk becomes manageable.

The need for lifecycle services for fuel supply systems

The transition to biofuels, like any alternative fuel, involves additional safety and operational considerations. Fuel supply systems need to be equipped with advanced features to regulate fuel flow, pressure, and temperature, ensuring safety, efficiency, optimal performance and compliance with environmental regulations. This ensures vessels continue to operate safely, efficiently and reliably.
However, real-world operating conditions test even the best engineered fuel supply system, optimally configured and designed. Fuel specifications evolve, regulatory requirements change and operational profiles shift as vessels move between trade routes. The performance characteristics that were optimal on day one may not be optimal five years later.
This is why lifecycle services for fuel supply systems are vital. These include commissioning, service inspections, maintenance services, predictive spare parts management and modernisations and upgrades.
It is an approach that recognises the work does not stop after installation. It is an ongoing relationship, in which the technology supplier works continuously with the ship owner or operator to monitor and ensure system performance, identify opportunities for optimisation and deliver regular maintenance and upgrades that keep the fuel supply system operating at peak efficiency.
At Auramarine, this lifecycle approach is built into the way the company works with customers. Its fuel supply systems are designed from the outset with biofuel compatibility in mind to configure systems that operators can rely on. Auramarine continue to work with customers on an ongoing basis to monitor how their fuel supply systems are performing in service, identify opportunities for optimisation, and ensure that maintenance and upgrades are carried out proactively rather than reactively.
In practice, this translates into regular inspections of fuel supply systems to detect early signs of system wear, reduce the risk of spills or leaks and keep safety equipment in good working order. Proactive maintenance scheduling helps customers avoid unplanned downtime and manage costs more effectively.
Remote support adds another layer of reassurance by allowing Auramarine to assist customers quickly wherever their vessels are operating, without always needing to wait for an onboard visit. It also entails providing customers with the extensive training they need ensure the ongoing safety and integrity of these systems.
These steps contribute to an effective decarbonisation strategy. They ensure that immediate investment in emissions reduction is supported by mid to long-term system health and performance.

Different solutions for different vessels

Different fleets have different, layered decarbonisation strategies. Within fleets, each vessel also requires its own considerations blending near-term efficiency improvements with longer-term alternative-fuel strategies.
Vessel age matters as well. Older ships tend to be best served by low-capital biofuel blends, mid-life vessels can often justify moderate fuel supply system upgrades while newer tonnage can rationalise bigger investments in fuels like methanol, designed for long-term transition readiness.
Industry sectors are also moving at different speeds. Short-sea, feeder and regional vessels with frequent calls in European waters are often early adopters to comply with the EU’s regulations. Tanker, ro-ro and ro-pax fleets with centralised fleet management are also moving quickly.
Across all these layers, the fuel supply system remains a critical enabler. It determines which fuels can be used, how safely and efficiently they can be burned, and what the real-world emissions profile of the vessel actually looks like.
It is a complex challenge that warrants sound engineering, thorough R&D, and a genuine commitment to ongoing performance improvements.
However, above all else, for ship owners, the path to decarbonisation is built through partnerships with fuel supply system suppliers who have done the work to understand how alternative fuels behave in practice, who have designed their equipment accordingly, and who are committed to standing behind that equipment for the duration of the vessel’s operational life.
When all these factors align, biofuel uptake takes off.
In a sector defined by long asset cycles, this solid foundation and long-term thinking build trust, and marks the difference between a supplier and a genuine lifecycle partner.
This is not a minor commercial distinction. It is the difference between a decarbonisation investment that delivers now, and one that continues to do so.

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