Shipping functions as the essential force that drives worldwide operations forward. All the items you use daily, including your clothing and phone and
Shipping functions as the essential force that drives worldwide operations forward. All the items you use daily, including your clothing and phone and your dining table food, underwent ocean transportation at some stage. But that same industry is very bad for the environment. Some of the dirtiest fuel in the world is burnt by ships . And time is running out to clean it up.
Green gas is filling that space. Not as a quick fix. But as something real, useful, and working right now.
The Problem With How Ships Run Today
Heavy fuel oil is what most ships use. It’s strong, thick, and cheap. It’s also dirty. The shipping industry produces approximately three percent of global carbon emissions. The shipping industry works with an output that matches the annual production of major industrialized nations.
The International Maritime Organization wants shipping emissions to be almost zero by 2050. The time until 2050 arrives is now less than 25 years . That’s not a long time for a business this big.
There needs to be a change. And it needs to change on a large scale.
So What Exactly Is Green Gas?
Green gas exists as a cleaner alternative to methane because it originates from a different source. People obtain standard natural gas through underground drilling operations. Green gas originates from organic waste materials which include food scraps and farm waste and sewage sludge.
When that organic waste breaks down, it lets out methane. We don’t let that gas escape into the air. Instead, we catch it, clean it up, and use it as fuel. That is biomethane.
You can create synthetic methane by combining green hydrogen with captured carbon dioxide. The process requires higher expenses but delivers equivalent results through another method.
What is the big selling point?
These kinds of sustainable marine fuels can be used right away on ships that already use LNG. No new engine. Not years of redesign. Just fuel that is cleaner in the same tank.
Case Study 1: Gasum and the Baltic Sea
Gasum is a Finnish energy company. The company has operated since multiple years to convert landfill and wastewater treatment plant biomethane into usable fuel across all Scandinavian countries.
Ships that travel regularly in the Baltic Sea, like Viking Line’s passenger ferries, started using this fuel. The results were very surprising. Compared to heavy fuel oil, vessels powered by Gasum’s biomethane cut carbon emissions by up to 90% over their entire lives.
There was no need for a big change. The ships already had engines that could use LNG. Gasum built the supply chain, which includes the collection, processing, and port infrastructure needed to deliver fuel on time. After that was done, it was easy to switch.
It’s a success story that isn’t loud. No news stories. Just ships that are cleaner doing their usual runs.
Case Study 2: CMA CGM Takes Bio-LNG to the Open Ocean
CMA CGM operates as one of the largest shipping companies throughout the globe. They transport millions of containers annually across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The company operated multiple vessels from 2023 until the end of 2024 using bio-LNG which is liquid biomethane for their extended ocean voyages.
The fuel came from agricultural waste collected in Europe. The supply chain involved farmers and food processors and waste handlers. The crew experienced no changes to their environment aboard the ships. The engines ran normally. Schedules were kept.
What did change was the emissions profile. CMA CGM reported a well-to-wake emissions cut of around 67% compared to standard marine fuel. That’s not a small number. That’s more than half the carbon impact gone — using ships that were already in service.
The company has placed additional orders for LNG-capable ships which will use bio-LNG as their primary fuel until future technologies like ammonia and hydrogen become available.
What’s Holding It Back?
Here’s the honest part. Green gas has real limits.
Supply is the biggest one. There simply isn’t enough biomethane in the world to fuel global shipping. Not today, not without massive investment in waste collection and processing infrastructure. Scaling that up takes years.
Cost is another wall. Bio-LNG can cost two to three times more than conventional marine fuel. Without stronger carbon pricing or regulation, most ship operators won’t make that jump voluntarily.
And then there’s the trust problem. When a company says their fuel is green, buyers need proof. That means verified records from waste source to ship. That certification system exists in some regions, but it’s patchy in others.
These challenges should motivate us to continue our efforts. The issues require direct solutions. The same discussions which currently take place at Marine Fuel Events throughout 2025 will continue to occur between fuel suppliers and port operators and shipping companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can my ship use green gas without being rebuilt?
The system requires LNG installation for its current operation. The two systems operate with compatible fuels of biomethane and bio-LNG. The transition process requires only logistical changes because the system operates correctly with its existing technical setup.
2. Is green gas actually carbon neutral?
Not completely. The entire process from waste collection to combustion results in emissions which decrease between 60 to 90% when compared to heavy fuel oil. The result shows a genuine and significant decrease.
3. What makes biomethane different from regular natural gas?
The two substances contain mostly methane. Natural gas extraction occurs through underground fossil fuel extraction. Biomethane comes from organic waste that would have released methane anyway. The process of capturing emissions provides two benefits because it prevents gas from escaping into the atmosphere.
4. Will green gas become outdated when hydrogen arrives?
Probably not entirely. Green gas is seen as a bridge — something that works now while hydrogen and ammonia infrastructure gets built. The two aren’t enemies. They’re part of the same transition.
5. Where do shipping professionals go to stay on top of this?
The main locations for industry forums and maritime energy conferences and port authority updates serve as the primary platforms for these activities. Marine fuel events in cities like Rotterdam, Singapore, and Houston bring together the people shaping these decisions in real time.
