The Maritime Authority of Jamaica, in collaboration with the International Maritime Organization, recently held a National Stakeholder Workshop exploring Jamaica’s potential role in the supply and demand of alternative marine fuels as global shipping transitions towards low and zero carbon energy.
The workshop formed part of an IMO GreenVoyage2050 supported study and brought together public and private sector stakeholders to examine market demand, supply potential, infrastructure readiness, regulatory considerations and investment priorities.
Director General of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, Bertrand Smith, said: “For Jamaica, the current pause in the adoption of the IMO Net Zero Framework presents an opportunity. It gives us the space to assess the economic impact on our shipping industry and the wider economy, and to carry out studies like this Alternative Fuel Study so we are ready to take advantage of the benefits that will come with the decarbonisation of shipping.
“The reality is that the shipping industry is and will continue to decarbonise. LNG has emerged as a transition fuel, but we are also seeing the rapid development of scalable, low carbon, hydrogen derived e fuels and ammonia, which have moved from concept to firm orders.”
Jamaica’s strategic maritime advantages, including its location close to major east west shipping routes and the depth of Kingston Harbour, were a central focus of discussions.
Mr Smith added: “We are leveraging these assets to ensure Jamaica is not left behind in the energy transition and to strengthen our position as a regional shipping and bunkering hub.”
The workshop also reflected the growth already taking place in Jamaica’s bunkering sector, with five operators now active, including Shell LNG, alongside increasing LNG bunkering volumes at Kingston and the outer anchorage and growing ship to ship activity at Portland Bight.
Alongside market developments, work is progressing on the policy and regulatory framework needed to support a competitive and secure bunkering sector.
Mr Smith said: “We are developing a modern legal framework to support a sustainable and secure maritime transport system, including standards for safe and competitive bunkering, and we expect this legislation to be passed this year.”
Plenary sessions and interactive workshops were led by Haskoning, which is supporting the IMO and MAJ in delivering the study. Participants included the Ministry of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications, the Port Authority of Jamaica, Petrojam Limited, West Indies Petroleum, Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited, Caribbean Maritime University, Scott Bunkering Jamaica Limited, Environmental Solutions Limited and other key regulators and industry stakeholders.
The Alternative Marine Fuel Study is assessing Jamaica’s potential to produce and bunker fuels such as biofuels, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen, with the aim of delivering evidence based recommendations and a practical roadmap aligned with the IMO Greenhouse Gas Strategy.
“This work is about ensuring Jamaica is prepared, competitive and well positioned as the shipping industry moves towards clean maritime energy,” Mr Smith added.
Findings from the workshop will feed into the final study and inform a regional roundtable discussion later in Trinidad and Tobago, supporting a coordinated Caribbean approach to alternative marine fuel development.
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