Analysis of Alternative Marine Fuels and Strategic Decision-Making for Maritime Decarbonisation

Assignment Brief

Module Title: MN-4502: Advanced Maritime Operations and Sustainability
Module Instructor: [Professor Name]
Assessment Title: Assessment 2: Critical Research Paper
Weighting: 60%
Word Count: 4,000 words (+/- 10%)
Submission Date: 17th January 2025

1.0 Rationale
The maritime industry stands at a pivotal juncture, facing unprecedented pressure from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), regional regulators, and charterers to decarbonise its operations. The initial strategy, focusing on short-term technical and operational measures like Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), is now giving way to the need for mid-to-long-term solutions. This assignment requires you to critically engage with this transition, moving beyond description to a nuanced analysis of the viability, challenges, and strategic implications of alternative marine fuels.

2.0 Task
You are to write a critical research paper that addresses the following prompt:

*”With the 2030 and 2050 IMO decarbonisation targets looming, the pursuit of a single ‘silver bullet’ fuel is a strategic misstep. The future will instead be characterised by a complex, multi-fuel landscape.”*

Critically evaluate this statement. Your paper should:

• Analyse the technical, operational, and economic viability of at least two prominent alternative fuel pathways (e.g., green methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, advanced biofuels).

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• Compare and contrast the challenges associated with your chosen fuels, considering factors such as energy density, storage, bunkering infrastructure, safety, and crew training.

• Assess the strategic implications for a shipowner or operator in making a newbuilding or retrofit decision today, given the significant uncertainties in future fuel availability and regulation.

• Conclude with a justified recommendation on how maritime stakeholders should navigate this transition, arguing whether a diversified fuel portfolio or a focused, single-fuel strategy is more prudent.

3.0 Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this assessment, you will be able to:

1. Critically analyse the technical and commercial drivers of maritime decarbonisation.

2. Synthesise complex information from multiple sources to evaluate emerging technologies and fuels.

3. Formulate and justify strategic recommendations for maritime operators in a context of uncertainty.

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4.0 Submission Format
Your paper must be presented as a formal academic document. It must include a title page, table of contents, introduction, logically structured sections with headings, a conclusion, and a reference list in Harvard style. The writing should be clear, concise, and professional.

Bibliography

Balcombe, P., Brierley, J., Lewis, C., Skatvedt, L., Speirs, J., Hawkes, A. & Staffell, I. (2019). ‘How to decarbonise international shipping: Options for fuels, technologies and policies’. Energy Conversion and Management, 182, pp.72-88.

Brynolf, S., Fridell, E. & Andersson, K. (2021). ‘Environmental assessment of marine fuels: liquefied natural gas, liquefied biogas, methanol and bio-methanol’. Journal of Cleaner Production, 264, 121566

DNV GL. (2023). Maritime Forecast to 2050 – Energy Transition Outlook. Høvik, Norway: DNV GL AS.

Hansson, J., Månsson, S., Brynolf, S. & Grahn, M. (2020). ‘Alternative marine fuels: Prospects for future shipping and sustainability’. In Sustainable Shipping (pp. 149-189). Springer, Cham.

Wang, S., Zhen, L. & Zhuge, D. (2021). ‘Dynamic programming for optimal ship refuelling decision under the carbon intensity indicator regulations’. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 152, pp.1-17.