Alternative marine fuels took centre stage at the Commonwealth summit in Antigua and Barbuda, where King Charles III, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese and Fortescue founder Andrew Forrest went aboard the Fortescue Green Pioneer in St John’s.
The 75-metre anchor-handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel was used by Forrest to make the case that renewable energy can replace oil in shipping. More than a dozen Commonwealth leaders took part in the gathering, including those of Pacific and Caribbean states that are highly exposed to climate change.
“Renewable energy will lower costs, not increase them,” Albanese said, arguing that the shift away from fossil fuels could boost growth.
About the ship
- A former offshore support vessel, converted at Seatrium’s Benoi yard in Singapore.
- In March 2024 it became the first vessel to demonstrate burning ammonia alongside diesel as a marine fuel. Two of its four engines were modified.
- It gained flag approval from Singapore and class certification from DNV, and completed further trials in May 2024.
- Its ammonia systems were decommissioned in December 2025 when the demonstration ended. It now serves as a floating showcase.
Oceans pledge
The visit coincided with the launch of the Commonwealth Nature Initiative, which has secured more than $200 million in early pledges to protect habitats and oceans. Backed by Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation and other philanthropies, it supports the goal of protecting 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030.
For Bangladesh, a Commonwealth member with a large coastal population, the debate over cleaner shipping fuels and ocean protection is directly relevant to its blue economy plans.
Based on reporting by Splash247, 3 November 2026.
Photo: Representative image of an anchor-handling tug supply vessel; not Fortescue Green Pioneer. Gordon Leggett / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
