Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Chief Executive, HE John Lee Ka-Chiu announced in his 2023 Policy Address to develop Hong Kong into a green maritime fuel bunkering center.
The Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB), in collaboration with the Environment and Ecology Bureau, immediately commenced a feasibility study and proceeded to formulate this Action Plan with reference to the study result, as well as in extensive consultation with the industry.
The Action Plan was promulgated in November 2024, setting out specific strategies and action measures to facilitate the development of green maritime fuel bunkering in Hong Kong, as well as strengthen and enhance Hong Kong’s positioning as an international maritime centre and major bunkering port in the region.
On regulations, the Shipping Legislation (Use of Fuels and Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2024 was passed in October 2024 and commenced operation on 10 January 2025 to allow vessels to use green maritime fuels such as LNG and green methanol in Hong Kong waters.
In 2025-2026, the Government will continue carrying out the following key tasks
Provide a green maritime fuel collaborative platform to allow business matching.
Complete the invitation of expressions of interest exercise on developing green maritime fuel storage facilities on a site in Tsing Yi South.
Provide duty exemption to methanol for use as fuel in outbound vessels.
Take forward the development of green methanol bunkering.
Start to require all vessels engaging in methanol bunkering in Hong Kong waters to be installed with mass flow meters.
Re-arrange anchorages and nearby fairways with a view to providing suitable berthing arrangements for vessels engaged in green maritime fuel bunkering.
Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering
The Government promulgated the Code of Practice on LNG Bunkering and Code of Practice on Methanol Bunkering in January and June 2025, respectively. The Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering Incentive Scheme was also launched in June 2025 to provide incentives to pioneer companies conducting green maritime fuel bunkering businesses in Hong Kong for relevant bunkering operations.
The Government facilitated the conduct of the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship-to-ship bunkering demonstration by the industry on 14 February 2025. Another operator also provided the first LNG bunkering operation with simultaneous cargo handling at our container terminal on 5 June.
A total of 13 commercial LNG bunkering operations have been conducted from February to November 2025, regularising the provision of commercial LNG bunkering services in Hong Kong.
In addition, in May 2025, an operator delivered 6 300 metric tons of B24 biodiesel fuel in Hong Kong waters, breaking the record of the largest amount of biodiesel fuel bunkered in a single delivery at a Chinese port.
In the same month, the first delivery of B30 biodiesel fuel in Hong Kong waters was also completed. These demonstrate Hong Kong’s great potential in developing green maritime fuel bunkering.
Green Maritime Fuel Trading
Developing green maritime fuel bunkering is only the first step. As an international financial and trading centre, Hong Kong is blessed with free flow of capital and financial and legal regime in line with global economies.
In terms of establishment of green maritime fuel supply chain, we co-organised a business matchmaking event for companies up and down the supply chain from the Chinese Mainland and HK on 25 June 2025 with the support of the Ministry of Commerce, as the first step to make green fuel trading a reality in Hong Kong.
The event brought together over 300 representatives of companies from Hong Kong and the Mainland up and down the green maritime fuel supply chain to discuss business opportunities. We also witnessed the signing of nine relevant memoranda of understanding, four of which involve the Transport and Logistics Bureau of the HKSAR Government.
Strategy 1: Green Fuel
Action (1): To adopt a multi-fuel strategy for a zero-carbon emission future
The Government will adopt a multi-fuel strategy whereby different types of fuels could be provided to vessels flexibly.
This includes encouraging trade to provide and use biodiesel and completing the drafting of the Code of Practice (CoP) on LNG bunkering within 2024.
The Government will establish the Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering Incentive Scheme in 2025 and reach out to sign memoranda of understanding with stakeholders relevant to green maritime fuels, as well as provide a collaborative platform for their business development, among other facilitation measures.
Action (2): To catalyse the green maritime fuel supply chain and trades
The Government will establish the Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering Incentive Scheme in 2025 and reach out to sign memoranda of understanding with stakeholders relevant to green maritime fuels, as well as provide a collaborative platform for their business development, among other facilitation measures.
Strategy 2: Green Port
Action (3): To develop a green maritime fuel bunkering ecosystem
The Government will provide support to the industry in a proactive manner to meet the challenges in different parts of the supply chain, including storage, bunkering, ancillary services, and regulatory framework.
Action (4): To simplify the approval process for green maritime fuel bunkering
The Marine Department will set up a dedicated team to provide one-stop services for companies interested in setting up green shipping-related businesses in Hong Kong and enhance the efficiency and transparency of approval procedures in relation to green maritime fuel bunkering, hence facilitating the development of bunkering business.
Action (5): To reduce carbon emissions from port operations
The Government will continue to maintain close communication with port operators and encourage them to deploy more measures to reduce carbon emissions from port operations, to prepare Hong Kong for participation in green shipping corridors.
Action (6): To holistically build a green Government fleet
The Government will promote the green transformation of the Government fleet. The Marine Department has set up an inter-departmental working group in 2024 to explore the relevant technological developments with relevant departments regularly, explore in 2026 promoting the use of bio-diesel by suitable Government vessels and the switch to green maritime fuel-powered vessels when decommissioned, and order the first batch of green methanol-powered vessels in 2027.
Strategy 3: Green Incentives
Action (7): To subsidise green transformation of vessels
Apart from the New Energy Transport Fund and the measures for creating an ecosystem for commodity trading, the Government will also consider in 2025 reducing the port dues and registration fees for green maritime fuel-powered vessels to help lower the cost of transitioning to green maritime fuels, as well as explore exempting imported green methanol for bunkering purposes from tax.
Action (8): To develop green-friendly arrangements for usage of port facilities
The Marine Department will announce in 2025 the arrangement for priority use of Hong Kong port facilities by green maritime fuel-powered vessels, as well as step up promotion on and encourage usage of green maritime fuels and Hong Kong’s green-friendly port arrangements to companies of Hong Kong-registered ships.
Strategy 4: Green Collaboration
Action (9): To foster regional cooperation in relation to green maritime fuel bunkering
The Government will actively drive collaboration with the Mainland over matters including fuel supply and manpower training.
Strategy 5: Green Expertise
Action (10): To nurture talents in relation to green maritime fuels
The Government will support the nurturing of talents in relation to green maritime fuels through such means as enhancing the existing subsidy schemes and launching new ones, to help Hong Kong develop into a training centre on green maritime fuels in the region. It is expected that 50 talents in relation to green maritime fuels will be trained by early 2026. At the same time, the Government will continue to provide facilitation for relevant talents to come to Hong Kong through different schemes.
