The Propulsion & Future Fuels 2025 Conference Programme 

Powering shipping’s emission-cutting ambitions 

Join global maritime leaders in Hamburg for two impactful days of insight, innovation, and discussion around the future of sustainable shipping.

This year’s conference tackles the most urgent topics in alternative fuels and vessel design, with expert sessions exploring ammonia’s potential and safety concerns, hydrogen and fuel cells’ technical and commercial readiness, and how ship design is evolving to accommodate new fuel types. The agenda also examines the role of bio-LNG and e-LNG in meeting regulations, shares real-world lessons on methanol, and questions whether biofuels are a long-term solution or a short-term fix. Additional sessions look at the challenge of scaling up wind propulsion and the feasibility of onboard carbon capture in a complex regulatory landscape.

Hear from C-suite leaders, regulators and technical experts, and connect with peers at the forefront of maritime innovation. Don’t miss the Motorship Awards and two days of crucial conversation driving the energy transition.

Technical Visit to be annouced soon. 

View and download the conference programme in PDF

Day 1 Tuesday 25th November 2025

08:00Coffee Registration

09:00-09:15

Chairmans Welcome 
Lars Robert Pedersen, Deputy Secretary General, BIMCO

09:15-09:25

DNV Gold Sponsor Welcome
Rasmus Stute, Area Manager Germany, Vice President Maritime, DNV

09:25-09:40

Keynote Address: TBC

09:40-09:55

Keynote Address: TBC

09:55-10:35

C-Suite Panel, Regulatory Update

Moderator: Lars Robert Pederson, Deputy Secretary General, BIMCO

Panellists include:
Wolfram Guntermann, Director Regulatory Affairs, Hapag-Lloyd AG

Pernille Dahlgaard, Chief Regulation & Policy Impact Officer, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping

Maria Skipper Schwenn, Bunker Holding Group

10:35-11:05

Coffee and Networking

Session 2.1 Ammonia

 11:05-12:20Session 2.1
The Ammonia Debate: Sustainable Shipping or Safety Concern? A promising sustainable fuel, or do safety concerns impact its chances of becoming a viable alternative fuel? 

Moderator

Markus Munz, Managing Director, VDMA Large Engines 

Speaker TBC

Benjamin Scholz, Ship Type Expert Gas Carriers / LNG as Fuel Stability & Safety DNV Maritime

Dr. Andreas Schmid, Senior Advisor R&D, WinGD

Andreas Hambücker, Head of Innovation and Development, TGE Marine Gas Engineering

12:00 - 12:20  Q&A

12:20-13:40

Lunch & Networking

 

 

Session 2.2 Hydrogen

11:05 - 12:20Session 2.2 Hydrogen and Fuel Cells: Unlocking Decarbonisation Potential.Exploring technical feasibility, operational challenges, and commercial potential.

Moderator

Philipp Simmank, Technical Advisor, VDR – German Shipowners‘ Association

Dr. Eng. Thomas Bayer, Lead Specialist - Fuel Cell Technology, Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, Lloyd’s Register 

Speaker TBC

Speaker TBC

Speaker TBC

12:00 - 12:20

Q&A

12:20 - 13:40 

Lunch & Networking

 

The Motorship Awards

13:30-14:00Motorship Award Fire Rounds

13:30-14:00

Panel Moderator: David Stevenson, Motorship Editor, Mercator Media

14:00 - 15:00Session 4.1 Ship designs for new fuels: how do we most efficiently propel our ships? New regulations mean ships have to be more efficient, how are naval architects integrating emissions reduction into the design stage?

 

Panel Moderator: Philipp Simmank, Technical Advisor, VDR – German Shipowners‘ Association

Panellists include:

John Cooper, CEO, Bar Technologies

ABB, speaker TBC

Paal Stenberg, CEO and Co-Founder, Færder Tanker Norway

15:00-15:30

Coffee and Networking

 

 

Session 5.1 LNG: Bio-LNG and ENG

15:30-16:45Session 5.1 Next Generation LNG: Bio-LNG and ENG.
Given stringent regulations and targets, what new options are available.

 

Moderator: Lars Robert Pedersen, Deputy Secretary General, BIMCO

Can Murtezaoglu, Business Development Manager, EMEAI, Commercial Division, GTT

Fuelre4m & Bontrup, speakers TBC

Vladimir Shnurkov, Technical Manager, Gulf Marine

Speaker TBC

16:25-16:45

Q&A

Session 5.2 Methanol

15:30-16:45Session 5.2 Navigating Methanol: Findings and Fixes.
An industry view on availability, production, solutions and findings for methanol powered vessels.

 

Moderator: Gavin Allwright, Secretary General, IWSA

Evangelos Fragkoulis, Head of Ship Design, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping

Speaker TBC

Speaker TBC

Speaker TBC

16:25-16:45

Q&A

Conference Wrap up 

16:45-17:00Conference Wrap up with Moderators and Chairmen

 Moderators

Lars Robert Pedersen, Deputy Secretary General, BIMCO

Dr. Markus Munz, Managing Director, VDMA Large Engines

Gavin Allwright, Secretary General, IWSA

Philipp Simmank, Technical Advisor, VDR – German Shipowners‘ Association

16:45 - 17:00

Conference Close

17:00 - 18:00

Welcome Drinks Reception and Announcement of Motorship Award Winner

18:30 - 21:00

Conference Dinner

BLOCKBRÄU
Bei den St. Pauli-Landungsbrücken 3, 20359 Hamburg, Germany

  

                                               

 

Day 2 - Wednesday 26th November 2025 

08:30Coffee & Registation

09:00 - 09:15

Chairmen’s recap of day one
Lars Robert Pedersen, Deputy Secretary General, BIMCO

09:15 - 09:30

Keynote Address: TBC

Session 1
09:30 - 10:45

Biofuels: Credible Path or short-term fix?
Are biofuels really a credible solution to the decarbonisation challenge?

 

Moderator: Philipp Simmank, Technical Advisor, VDR – German Shipowners‘ Association

Stefan Fahrnholz, Manager R&D - Decarbonisation, Carnival Maritime

Evangelos Fragkoulis, Head of Ship Design, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping

Jorge Manuel Gomes Antunes, CEO, Tecnoveritas

Speaker TBC

10:25 - 10:45

Q&A

10:45 – 11:15

Coffee & Networking

Session 2
11:15 - 12:30

Harnessing the Power of Wind: Scaling up to meet demand.
Tackling the challenges on standardisation, installation and regulation – how does the industry scale up to meet demand?

 

Moderator: Gavin Allwright, Secretary, International Windship Association (IWSA)

Lauren Eatwell, Head of WindWings®, BAR Technologies

Dr. Uwe Hollenbach, Senior Principal Engineer, Ship Performance Center, DNV, Maritime Advisory

Jan A. Opedal, Project Manager, Ship Management, Technology Odfjell Management AS

Speaker TBC

12:10 - 12:30

Q&A

12:30 - 13:40

Lunch & Networking

Session 3
13:40 - 14:55

Onboard Carbon Capture: Feasibility of storing emissions onboard?
Navigating the regulatory minefield and the considerations for weight, purity, handling and storage.

 

Moderator: Dr. Markus Münz, Managing Director, VDMA Large Engines 

Speaker TBC

Elias Boletis, Sr. Advisor Marine Propulsion and Decarbonization

René Sejer Laursen, ABS, Director – Fuels & Technology Global Sustainability

Speaker TBC

14:35 - 14:55

Q&A

14:55 - 15:25

Coffee and Networking

Session 4
15:25 - 16:40

Retrofit: Forward thinking solutions to enable vesels to transition into new fuels.  

 

Moderator: Lars Robert Pedersen, Deputy Secretary General, BIMCO

David Cafarelli, Global Sales & Application Engineering Manager, Accelleron

Ole Frydek, Solution Sales Project Manager, Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG

Speaker TBC

Martin Wattum, M.Sc., Head of Energy Efficiency projects, Klaveness Combination Carriers

Amar Parikh, Head of Decarbonization Retrofits Everllence

16:20 - 16:40

Q&A

Conference Wrap up 

16:40-17:00Conference Wrap up with Moderators and Chairmen

Moderators

Lars Robert Pedersen, Deputy Secretary General, BIMCO

Dr. Markus Munz, Managing Director, VDMA Large Engines

Gavin Allwright, Secretary General, IWSA

Philipp Simmank, Technical Advisor, VDR – German Shipowners‘ Association

17:00

Conference Close

  

DAY THREE - THURSDAY 27th NOVEMBER 2025 TECHNICAL VISIT                                                 

 

2025 Conference Fees

Costs per delegate

Premium rate €2,730, includes:

  • Conference Attendance with lunch and refreshments on both days.
  • Full documentation in electronic format
  • Place at conference dinner (25 November 2025)
  • Place at technical visit (27 Novermber 2025)

Standard rate €2,625, includes:

  • Conference attendance on both days.
  • Lunch and refreshments on both days.
  • Documentation in electronic format - Conference Handbook only.

Group booking discounts available

Special rates available for recognised educational establishments & ship operators. 

Please Contact us for details.

 

BOOKING ONLINE

Book online here 

Alternatively, you can call us on +44 1329 825335
On receipt of your registration, you will be sent confirmation of your delegate place.

CONTACT US

For further information on exhibiting, sponsoring, or attending the conference, contact the Events team on: +44 1329 825335 or email conferences@propulsionconference.com.