The SEAFAIRER project made a strong showing at the inaugural Rostock Biofuels in Shipping Symposium, held 21-22 April 2026 in at the PENTA Hotel in Rostock, Germany. This first edition brought together a diverse group of stakeholders across the marine biofuel value chain, including authorities, fuel providers, insurers, engine and component manufacturers, and shipping companies, to discuss practical experiences, technical challenges, and the latest developments in maritime biofuels.
Daniel Pichler presented the SEAFAIRER project, highlighting recent achievements and results and outlining how these will be deepened in the upcoming weeks and months, specifically targeting marine application of bio-oil. Begüm-Nisa Kocacenk from Fraunhofer UMSICHT also delivered a science pitch on “Marine fuels by thermo-catalytic reforming of biomass,” showcasing the underlying technologies and recent technical advancements achieved under SEAFAIRER, while highlighting the broader capabilities of the Fraunhofer UMSICHT institute.
Beyond the formal presentations, Kristian Aleksander Jørgensen, PhD candidate at DTU, joined the symposium and deepened discussions on ongoing bio-oil blending activities as part of Work Package 5 and Work Package 7, together with colleagues from Fraunhofer UMSICHT and FVTR.
The team was also pleased to reconnect in person with SEAFAIRER project advisor Remco de Witte from Alfa Laval, who presented on “How to treat new biofuels onboard – from tank to engine”. This provided an excellent opportunity to dive deeper into how the SEAFAIRER can support the decarbonisation journey of the shipping sector.
The symposium offered more than just presentations and discussions. FVTR, our project partners and symposium hosts, organised an inspiring visit to the Neptun Werft shipyard and the facilities of Fraunhofer IGP, providing participants with a valuable opportunity to connect symposium discussions with real-world industrial contexts where ships and platforms are being built. This bridge between research and practice perfectly aligned with SEAFAIRER’s mission to bring sustainable biofuel solutions from the laboratory to real maritime applications.
The symposium covered five comprehensive sessions spanning the full biofuel value chain: identification and production of biofuels, market situation and bio-oil optimisation, operational implementation challenges, hardware perspectives from engine manufacturers, and real-world experiences from shipping companies including Carnival Maritime and Hapag-Lloyd. This holistic approach provided SEAFAIRER team members with invaluable insights into both the technical challenges and commercial considerations that will shape the future uptake of marine biofuels.
We look forward to future editions of the Rostock Biofuels in Shipping Symposium and to continued collaboration with all partners and stakeholders working towards more sustainable maritime transport. The connections made and knowledge exchanged in Rostock will undoubtedly strengthen SEAFAIRER’s ongoing work to advance bio-oil as a viable, sustainable fuel option for the shipping industry.