Escalating geopolitical tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz are casting a harsh light on the vulnerabilities within shipping’s ongoing energy transition, according to Ship & Bunker. The unfolding crisis is reinforcing just how dependent the maritime industry remains on conventional oil and gas infrastructure — even as it accelerates its push toward cleaner alternatives.
Alternative Fuels Under Pressure
Rob Mortimer, CEO of Dubai-based Fuelre4m, argues that the industry’s drive toward fuels such as LNG, methanol, and ammonia is genuine — but it does not move at the pace of geopolitical events. “While the industry is moving toward alternative fuels such as LNG, methanol and ammonia, geopolitics operates on a different timeline,” he told Ship & Bunker. “The current situation highlights how fragile these emerging fuel systems remain compared to the resilience of established oil and gas infrastructure.”
The conventional oil and gas network, built and refined over many decades, continues to offer a level of reliability and availability that newer fuel systems cannot yet match. As reported by Ship & Bunker, alternative fuels remain constrained by a range of structural challenges — including sparse bunkering infrastructure, geographically concentrated production hubs, and supply chains that are still in early stages of maturity.
When Green Fuels Become Optional
This infrastructure gap carries real operational consequences. According to Ship & Bunker, dual-fuel vessels are reverting to conventional marine oil during periods of disruption, effectively reducing cleaner fuels to an optional add-on rather than a dependable operational standard.
Mortimer noted that shipowners now find themselves navigating a difficult balance between regulatory compliance and energy security, particularly as key supply routes remain exposed. “The reality is that the energy transition is not yet replacing the existing system, it is being layered on top of it,” he said.
Efficiency as an Overlooked Tool
Beyond the infrastructure shortfall, Mortimer highlighted operational improvements as an underutilised lever in the decarbonisation effort. “Operational efficiency, improved combustion and optimisation technologies can deliver meaningful reductions today, yet they receive far less policy attention,” he said, as cited by Ship & Bunker.
The broader picture, as reported by Ship & Bunker, is that while investment in alternative fuels is gathering momentum, the supporting infrastructure has yet to develop the robustness required to weather geopolitical shocks — leaving the maritime decarbonisation agenda in a structurally vulnerable position.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
