Port of Auckland subsidiary Seafuels has signed a shipbuilding contract for a new $50 million bunkering vessel that will allow shipping lines to refuel in Auckland with biodiesel and methanol, alongside low-sulphur fuel and marine diesel oil.
The port says the investment will support the maritime sector’s transition to lower-carbon fuels and align with its own emissions-reduction targets.
“This tanker is a significant investment in the port’s future and a big milestone in our sustainability journey,” Port of Auckland chief executive Roger Gray says.
“We have worked with our shipping line customers to understand their future fuel needs and we’re pleased to be able to offer a practical tool toward lower-carbon intensive shipping.”
Seafuels director Allan D’Souza says the move reinforces the port’s focus on modernising its marine services.
“This investment demonstrates the port’s unwavering commitment to innovation, safety, and sustainability, supporting the global transition to cleaner energy while strengthening our commitment to meet the evolving needs of the maritime industry,” D’Souza says.
The shipping industry accounts for an estimated 2–3% of global emissions, and the International Maritime Organization has set a 2050 net-zero goal.
Port of Auckland is working toward its own zero-emissions target in the same timeframe, having introduced the world’s first fully electric tug, Sparky, in 2022.
“Achieving these targets requires a significant transition plan to zero-emission alternatives and Port of Auckland are pleased to be able to support this transition for ships in New Zealand,” Gray says.
Vessel details
- The contract is with Ada Denizcilik ve Tersane Isletmeciligi A.S., based in Tuzla, Turkey.
- The new tanker will be 88.8 metres long and built to IMO Class II chemical tanker standards.
- Delivery is expected in late 2027.
- It will replace Seafuels’ current bunkering vessel, Awanuia, which will have been in service for 18 years by then.
- The new vessel will begin a long-term charter with a major fuel provider once delivered.
- A naming and blessing ceremony will take place in 2027.
