Alternative fuels and design modifications for environmentally sustainable marine vessels

<p dir="ltr">The maritime industry faces significant challenges in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining operational efficiency. This paper assesses four major alternative marine fuels—liquified natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, methanol, and ammonia—and the required ship mo...

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Main Author: Aisha Al-Asmakh (21153323) (author)
Other Authors: Yusuf Bicer (14158977) (author), Tareq Al-Ansari (9872268) (author)
Published: 2025
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author Aisha Al-Asmakh (21153323)
author2 Yusuf Bicer (14158977)
Tareq Al-Ansari (9872268)
author2_role author
author
author_facet Aisha Al-Asmakh (21153323)
Yusuf Bicer (14158977)
Tareq Al-Ansari (9872268)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Aisha Al-Asmakh (21153323)
Yusuf Bicer (14158977)
Tareq Al-Ansari (9872268)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-04-18T12:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.121226
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Alternative_fuels_and_design_modifications_for_environmentally_sustainable_marine_vessels/28829573
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Engineering
Environmental engineering
Maritime engineering
Mechanical engineering
Alternative fuel
Ammonia
Clean fuels
Decarbonization
Hydrogen
Liquified natural gas
Methanol
Propulsion
Vessel retrofitting
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Alternative fuels and design modifications for environmentally sustainable marine vessels
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <p dir="ltr">The maritime industry faces significant challenges in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining operational efficiency. This paper assesses four major alternative marine fuels—liquified natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, methanol, and ammonia—and the required ship modifications. The evaluation follows International Maritime Organization life cycle assessment guidelines and the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI), highlighting design changes that can reduce emissions. Findings indicate that polymer bearings in propulsion systems are 6–9 times more efficient in reducing friction power loss than traditional metal bearings. Integrated energy recovery systems can generate an additional 15–17 % of net power. Sustainability analysis shows that hydrogen and LNG can be considered the most suitable options environmentally, economically, and operationally. Hydrogen-powered systems could reduce maritime CO<sub>2</sub> emissions by up to 70 % by mid-century, with fuel cells offering 75 % energy conversion efficiency, compared to 55–60 % for conventional diesel engines. However, challenges such as infrastructure, safety concerns, and high investment costs remain. These issues require collaborative efforts from the industry and regulators. This research contributes to maritime sustainability by providing quantitative performance data and strategies for adopting alternative fuels in both new and existing fleets.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Ocean Engineering<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.121226" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.121226</a></p>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
id Manara2_ab1ff3e2dfc3b8bb0cf5b983eea89b89
identifier_str_mv 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.121226
network_acronym_str Manara2
network_name_str Manara2
oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/28829573
publishDate 2025
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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rights_invalid_str_mv CC BY 4.0
spelling Alternative fuels and design modifications for environmentally sustainable marine vesselsAisha Al-Asmakh (21153323)Yusuf Bicer (14158977)Tareq Al-Ansari (9872268)EngineeringEnvironmental engineeringMaritime engineeringMechanical engineeringAlternative fuelAmmoniaClean fuelsDecarbonizationHydrogenLiquified natural gasMethanolPropulsionVessel retrofitting<p dir="ltr">The maritime industry faces significant challenges in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining operational efficiency. This paper assesses four major alternative marine fuels—liquified natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, methanol, and ammonia—and the required ship modifications. The evaluation follows International Maritime Organization life cycle assessment guidelines and the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI), highlighting design changes that can reduce emissions. Findings indicate that polymer bearings in propulsion systems are 6–9 times more efficient in reducing friction power loss than traditional metal bearings. Integrated energy recovery systems can generate an additional 15–17 % of net power. Sustainability analysis shows that hydrogen and LNG can be considered the most suitable options environmentally, economically, and operationally. Hydrogen-powered systems could reduce maritime CO<sub>2</sub> emissions by up to 70 % by mid-century, with fuel cells offering 75 % energy conversion efficiency, compared to 55–60 % for conventional diesel engines. However, challenges such as infrastructure, safety concerns, and high investment costs remain. These issues require collaborative efforts from the industry and regulators. This research contributes to maritime sustainability by providing quantitative performance data and strategies for adopting alternative fuels in both new and existing fleets.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Ocean Engineering<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.121226" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.121226</a></p>2025-04-18T12:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.121226https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Alternative_fuels_and_design_modifications_for_environmentally_sustainable_marine_vessels/28829573CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/288295732025-04-18T12:00:00Z
spellingShingle Alternative fuels and design modifications for environmentally sustainable marine vessels
Aisha Al-Asmakh (21153323)
Engineering
Environmental engineering
Maritime engineering
Mechanical engineering
Alternative fuel
Ammonia
Clean fuels
Decarbonization
Hydrogen
Liquified natural gas
Methanol
Propulsion
Vessel retrofitting
status_str publishedVersion
title Alternative fuels and design modifications for environmentally sustainable marine vessels
title_full Alternative fuels and design modifications for environmentally sustainable marine vessels
title_fullStr Alternative fuels and design modifications for environmentally sustainable marine vessels
title_full_unstemmed Alternative fuels and design modifications for environmentally sustainable marine vessels
title_short Alternative fuels and design modifications for environmentally sustainable marine vessels
title_sort Alternative fuels and design modifications for environmentally sustainable marine vessels
topic Engineering
Environmental engineering
Maritime engineering
Mechanical engineering
Alternative fuel
Ammonia
Clean fuels
Decarbonization
Hydrogen
Liquified natural gas
Methanol
Propulsion
Vessel retrofitting