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The Propulsion & Future Fuels 2025 Conference Programme

Powering shipping’s emission-cutting ambitions

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

This year’s conference tackled 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 examined the role of bio-LNG and e-LNG in meeting regulations, shared real-world lessons on methanol, and questioned whether biofuels are a long-term solution or a short-term fix. Additional sessions looked at the challenge of scaling up wind propulsion and the feasibility of onboard carbon capture in a complex regulatory landscape.

Delegates heard from C-suite leaders, regulators and technical experts, and connected with peers at the forefront of maritime innovation.

View and download the conference programme in PDF

Day 1 - Tuesday 25th November 2025

08:00	Coffee & Registration
09:00-09:15	Chairman’s welcome Lars Robert Pedersen, Deputy Secretary General, BIMCO
09:15-09:25	Gold sponsor welcome Dr. Olaf Doerk, Head of Technical Advisory, DNV
09:25-09:40	Keynote Address: IMO development update Lars Robert Pedersen, Deputy Secretary General, BIMCO
09:40-09:55	Keynote Address: IMO Net-Zero Framework – Staying the Course Dipl.-Ing. Torsten Mundt, Senior Government Official, Federal Ministry of Transport
09:55-10:45	KEYNOTE PANEL: Regulatory Update Panel Moderator: Markus Munz, Managing Director, VDMA Large Engines Panellists include: Dr.-Ing. Christoph Thiem, Director Fleet Innovation & Projects, Hapag-Lloyd Pernille Dahlgaard, Chief Impact Officer, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping Maria Skipper Schwenn, Director of Environmental Regulatory Affairs, Group Commercial, Bunker Holding Group Dipl.-Ing. Torsten Mundt, Senior Government Official, Federal Ministry of Transport Lars Robert Pedersen, Deputy Secretary General, BIMCO
10:45-11:15	Coffee & Networking

Session 2.1 Ammonia

11:15-12:30	Session 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	Lars Robert Pedersen, Deputy Secretary General, BIMCO
11:18-11:31	Ship fuel readiness in practice Mia Elg, R&D Manager, Deltamarin Review of key technical considerations in ship design regarding fuel readiness and fuel flexibility with examples of Höegh Autoliners Aurora class ships.
11:31-11:44	Ammonia as ship fuel - Sustainable Shipping or Safety Concern? Benjamin Scholz, Ship Type Expert Gas Carriers / LNG as Fuel Stability & Safety, *DNV Maritime* A promising sustainable fuel, or do safety concerns impact its chances of becoming a viable alternative fuel?
11:44-11:57	Challenges, Successes, and Stage Victories: Establishing Ammonia as a Marine Fuel Dr. Andreas Schmid, Senior Advisor R&D, *WinGD* WinGD’s collaborative approach transformed ammonia’s technical and safety challenges into milestones, culminating in the successful 2025 launch of its efficient, low-emission XDF-A engine.
11:57-12:10	Futureproof your vessel to be adjustable to meet the regulatory restrictions on emissions Andreas Hambücker, Head of Innovation and Development, TGE Marine Gas Engineering Ammonia offers a viable path to net-zero shipping, with existing technology enabling decarbonisation, pending bunkering infrastructure and green ammonia scale-up.
12:10-12:30	Q&A
12:30-14:00	Lunch & Networking

Session 2.2 Hydrogen

11:15-12:30	Session 2.2 Hydrogen and Fuel Cells: Unlocking Decarbonisation Potential. Exploring technical feasibility, operational challenges, and commercial potential.
Moderator	Gavin Allwright, Secretary General, IWSA
11:18-11:31	Fuel Cell Safety – A Class Perspective Dr. Eng. Thomas Bayer, Lead Specialist - Fuel Cell Technology, Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, Lloyd’s Register Fuel cells offer a promising way to decarbonize shipping, but associated risks and hazards require appropriate safeguards – an introduction to fuel cell safety and LR’s Class Rules.
11:31-11:44	Review of fuel cell solutions to support maritime decarbonisation Sami Kanerva, Global Product Manager for fuel cell solutions, ABB Marine & Ports Presentation of scalable fuel cell solutions supporting green power generation onboard marine vessels and shore power in port.
11:44-11:57	Hybrid LNG–LH₂ Systems: Powering the Smooth Transition to Cleaner Fuels Martin Kalecky, Product Manager for Marine Systems - Marine (Global), Chart Industries Hydrogen adoption through hybridisation—LNG today, LH₂-ready tomorrow—delivered by a hybrid fuel system, fuel blending, and a business case owners can execute.
11:57-12:10	Pioneering a Zero Emissions Fleet Sara Ravazza, FutureProof Shipping Hydrogen-powered vessels, part of a sustainable future. More players = more opportunities.
12:10-12:30	Q&A
12:30-14:00	Lunch & Networking

14:00-14:20	Session 3 WINNING SOLUTIONS
	Lessons learned from a previous Motorship Award winner
	Henning Steffen, Sales Director Europe, bound4blue Suction Sails for Sustainable Shipping: One Year of Progress and Lessons Learned

Session 4: The Motorship Awards

14:20-15:00	Motorship Award Fire Rounds
	Panel Moderator: David Stevenson, Motorship Editor, Mercator Media
	Fueling the Future: Collaborative Innovation Behind Norway’s Hydrogen Ferry Breakthrough *Paul Herbert*, Principal Technology Specialist, Lloyd’s Register Pioneering hydrogen-powered ferries through bold innovation, technical excellence, and cross-sector collaboration to accelerate maritime decarbonisation and regulatory compliance.
	BioHFO – In-Line Biofuel Processing System for Decarbonising Existing Vessels *Jorge Manuel Gomes Antunes,* CEO, Tecnoveritas Showcasing how onboard fuel processing can seamlessly integrate biofuels with conventional fuels, enabling savings, economic and compliant fleet decarbonisation.
	T-BOSS® – A New Sustainable Ship Design Lowering CAPEX, OPEX and Eliminating Pollution Risk Martin Linder, Merchant Fleet Business Development Manager Northern Europe, Thordon Bearings Eliminating the traditional stern tube and uses a single seawater lubricated bearing that offers extra cargo or engine room space reducing OPEX, improving EEDI and eliminating oil pollution.
	Global Maritime Carbon Regulation Compliance Management Ralf Garrn, Managing Director, OceanScore
15:00-15:30	Coffee and Networking

Session 5.1 LNG: Bio-LNG and ENG

15:30-16:45	Session 5.1 Next Generation LNG: BIO-Methane and E-Methane Given stringent regulations and targets, what new options are available.
	Moderator: Lars Robert Pedersen, Deputy Secretary General, BIMCO
15:33-15:51	Re-Refined Base Oils : A Sustainable Path for Marine Lubricants Vladimir Shnurkov, Technical Manager, Gulf Marine RRBO – Integrated advance Marine Sustainability by reducing Emissions, proven by Ship Trials and Rigorous Lab Tests
15:51-16:04	“Next Generation LNG Solutions: Enabling the Energy Transition with GTT Technologies” Can Murtezaoglu, Business Development Manager, EMEAI, Commercial Division, GTT With innovation at its core, GTT technologies are accelerating LNG and Bio-LNG adoption, enabling the maritime sector to meet future decarbonization targets and regulatory demands
16:04-16:17	Biomethane and Bio-LNG for the Maritime sector: Qualities, Market Development and Prices Henning Dicks, Managing Partner, agriportance GmbH Reviews biomethane and Bio-LNG qualities, specifications, price trends, and current and future availability across key European maritime markets.
16:17-16:30	Enabling methane’s role as a preferred marine fuel with next generation ME-GI engines Rasmus Holm Bidstrup, Director and Head of Two-Stroke Promotion for newbuildings, Everllence Advancing methane as a key marine fuel through next-generation ME-GI engines, delivering superior efficiency, reliability, and minimal methane slip
16:30-16:45	Q&A

Session 5.2 Methanol

15:30-16:45	Session 5.2 Navigating Methanol: Findings and Fixes. An industry view on availability, production, solutions and findings for methanol powered vessels.
	Moderator: Philipp Simmank, Technical Advisor, VDR – German Shipowners‘ Association
15:33-15:51	Kamsarmax Methanol Retrofit: Technical and Economic Considerations Evangelos Fragkoulis, Head of Ship Design, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping This study analyses the technical and economic feasibility of retrofitting an 82k DWT bulk carrier to methanol dual-fuel, highlighting key challenges and opportunities.
15:51-16:04	Maritime Power-to-X; Enabling Scalable Green Met David Surplus, Founding Director, B9Energy The use of road mobile ISO tanks to deliver green methanol as a fuel to ro-ro freight ferries and return captured CO2 to an e-methanol synthesis plant, thereby delivering zero emission performance.
16:04-16:17	Methanol FSS : Status of Technologies and Field Experiences Luca Lori, Application Engineer Fuel Supply Systems, Alfa Laval, Marine Division Alfa Laval has consolidated 10 years of presence in methanol propulsion. An overview of the status of the application and of the field experience.
16:17-16:30	Speaker TBC
16:30-16:45	Q&A

Conference Wrap up

16:45-17:00	Conference 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

08:30	Coffee & Registration
09:00-09:15	Recap of day 1 by Chairmen Markus Munz, Managing Director, VDMA Large Engines
09:15-10:30	Session 1 - Biofuels: Credible Path or short-term fix? Are biofuels really a credible solution to the decarbonisation challenge?
Moderator	Lars Robert Pedersen, Deputy Secretary General, BIMCO
09:18-09:31	Cruising with biofuels: Charting a course for decarbonization Stefan Fahrnholz, Manager R&D - Decarbonisation, Carnival Maritime Exploring biofuels as a pathway to cruise decarbonization, amid uncertainty over their role in achieving climate goals
09:31-09:44	Navigating the Decarbonization Transition Mustafa El Zein, New Fuel Advisor, Glander International Bunkering Exploring key regulatory compliance challenges and strategies, focusing on the EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime decarbonisation requirements
09:44-:09:57	BioHFO – In-Line Biofuel Processing System for Decarbonising Existing Vessels Jorge Manuel Gomes Antunes, CEO, Tecnoveritas Showcasing how onboard fuel processing can seamlessly integrate biofuels with conventional fuels, enabling savings, economic and compliant fleet decarbonisation.
09:57-10:10	Biofuels: credible path or carbon compromise? Emanuele Della Ragione, Executive Engineer, Grimaldi Group Biofuels offer a practical bridge for maritime decarbonization, balancing immediate emission reductions with sustainability challenges and future zero-carbon fuel development.
10:10-10:30	*Q&A*
10:30–11:00	Coffee & Networking
11:00-12:15	Session 2 - 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)
11:03-11:16	Lauren Eatwell, Head of WindWings®, BAR Technologies Summary of WindWings® installations and BAR Tech’s advanced simulation-to-on-water-testing design process, plus the passive 3-element philosophy and rapid scale-up for rising global demand.
11:16-11:29	Harnessing the Power of Wind: Scaling up to meet demand Dr. Uwe Hollenbach, Senior Principal Engineer, Ship Performance Center, DNV, Maritime Advisory DNV’s recommended practice for the in-service performance verification of WAPS equipped ships.
11:29-11:42	Wise Use of Energy – A Practical Pathway to Net Zero Jan A. Opedal, Project Manager, Ship Management, Technology Odfjell Management AS Odfjell shares its energy efficiency journey, exploring wind-assisted propulsion and biofuels as practical, complementary pathways toward achieving 2050 decarbonisation goals.
11:42-11:55	Challenges in performance assessment for wind propulsion Julien Ducarne, Chief Technical Officer, Computed Wing Sail Shipowners face rising decarbonisation pressure and unproven technologies. This talk highlights key dilemmas and projects standardising performance assessment to reduce uncertainty and guide decisions
11:55-12:15	Q&A
12:15-13:25	Lunch & Networking
13:25-14:40	Session 3 - 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
13:28-13:41	Wärtsilä carbon capture solution Stian Aakre, General Manager, Technical and R&D, Wärtsilä Exhaust Treatment Wärtsilä successfully installed the world’s first full scale carbon capture system on a ship in February 2025. Learn more about the technology, experiences and challenges.
13:41-13:54	Carbon Capture Storage: an emission-reducing solution Frédéric Le Moullec, Commercial Manager - Value Maritime Onboard Carbon Capture and Storage (OCCS) and the carbon value chain – start now, scale up, cut emissions today with conventional and alternative fuels
13:54-14:07	The Role of CO₂ Barges in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) René Sejer Laursen, ABS, Director – Fuels & Technology Global Sustainability Reducing emissions with CO₂ barges; offering a vital solution to transportation challenges between source and storage.
14:07-14:20	Techno-Economic Comparison of Carbon Capture Technologies for a Ship Use Case Peter Ranacher, Research Engineer, LEC GmbH Based on a representative cruise ship case study, cryogenic and membrane-based carbon capture technologies are evaluated against amine gas treating by system simulation.
14:20-14:40	Q&A
14:40-15:10	Coffee and Networking
15:10-15:25	Session 4 - Unlocking Maritime Advantage with Advanced Nuclear Power
Moderator	Dr. Markus Münz, Managing Director, VDMA Large Engines
15:10-15:25	Jez Sims, Principle Nuclear Authority - Marine and Offshore, Lloyd’s Register Is a standardised, modular nuclear power model, with harmonised regulation and fleet integration frameworks, a viable path to scalable, zero-emission shipping?
15:25-16:40	Session 5 - Retrofit: Forward thinking solutions to enable vessels to transition into new fuels.
Moderator	Philipp Simmank, Technical Advisor, VDR – German Shipowners‘ Association
15:28-15:41	Integrated propulsion efficiency solution powered by Accelleron and Caterpillar David Cafarelli, Global Sales & Application Engineering Manager, Accelleron Ole Frydek, Solution Sales Project Manager, Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG Joint retrofit solution by Accelleron and Caterpillar to boost engine efficiency, cut emissions and fuel use, and enable compliance with evolving regulations.
15:41-15:54	Reto Schmid, Senior Project Manager - Retrofit Solutions, WinGD
15:54-16:07	Designing for transition: Retrofit gains and future-ready newbuilds Martin Wattum, M.Sc., Head of Energy Efficiency projects, Klaveness Combination Carriers How retrofit projects are improving efficiency and compliance today, while minor newbuild design tweaks enable cost-efficient future fuel transitions with minor upfront costs.
16:07-16:20	Engine Retrofits - A competitive advantage Amar Parikh, Head of Decarbonization Retrofits, Everllence Evolving regulations present an opportunity for shipowners and operators to invest in retrofit solutions that enhance engine efficiency, boost performance and align existing ships with modern standards.
16:20-16:40	Q&A

Conference Wrap up

16:40-17:00

Conference 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
Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and Services CML

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.

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