Ningbo Zhoushan Port fuels greener global shipping

The LNG bunkering vessel Haiyang Shiyou 302 approaches the container ship MSC Alessia on June 30. [Photo by Wu Mengkai for Ningbo Daily]

Ningbo Zhoushan Port in Zhejiang province has secured its place as the third-largest port in China for liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering, surpassing 50,000 metric tons in the first half of 2025.

On June 30, China's first all-weather river-sea LNG bunkering vessel, Haiyang Shiyou 302, delivered about 5,000 cubic meters of LNG fuel to the ultra-large container ship MSC Alessia at the Chuanshan port area. This event highlights Ningbo Zhoushan Port's growing capacity in providing clean energy solutions for international shipping.

With global maritime regulations on carbon emissions becoming stricter, LNG is becoming the preferred fuel for environmentally friendly shipping. Compared to traditional marine fuels, LNG reduces carbon monoxide emissions by 90 percent, carbon dioxide by 15 percent, sulfur dioxide by more than 98 percent, and particulate matter by over 96 percent. The 50,000 tons of LNG supplied so far this year have resulted in a reduction of approximately 23,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

The bunkering operation used a "simultaneous operations" model, which allowed cargo handling and refueling concurrently — maximizing port efficiency and reducing vessel idle time. The Haiyang Shiyou 302, independently developed in China, integrates transportation, storage, and bunkering, with a peak fueling rate of 2,000 cu m per hour.

With multiple LNG service points now operational in port areas like Meishan and Chuanshan, Ningbo Zhoushan Port is building a comprehensive LNG bunkering network. In the first quarter alone, it exceeded last year's total LNG volume, serving international carriers such as MSC and CMA CGM.