Wallem builds momentum on future-proof ship management strategy

As requirements for digitalisation and decarbonisation continue to advance, Wallem Group is investing in both the technology and the human expertise that ship owners need to turn compliance into efficiency, performance and competitive advantage.

In terms of vessels managed, Wallem’s largest single ship type remains tankers, but we are expanding across sectors, with PCTC car carriers now making up nearly one in five of our fleet, and the number of bulk carriers and container ships under management also growing. In recent months, we have also added LPG carriers to the fleet and we expect more to follow.

The increasing demand for our services is partly attributable to Wallem’s commitment to supporting shipping’s transition to new and alternative fuel types, in line with the targets set out for maritime decarbonisation.

Wallem began getting ready for LNG-fuelled operations in 2022, initially offering classroom training to a group of 128 staff. By 2023, we had expanded that programme to include onboard training, and to date, 19 of our managers and superintendents are fully certified under the IGF Code.

We continue to expand our engagement with LNG dual-fuel vessel operations, notably taking the 9,200-vehicle newbuild PCTC BYD Shenzhen under management in April 2025.

But LNG is only one side of the story. Wallem is currently managing nearly 30 ships running on alternative fuels, of which the majority run on fuels other than LNG. In all cases, we have focused on ensuring its technical readiness and invested in procedures and training ahead of its clients’ requirements to implement change.

For example, Wallem moved early to support owners seeking to their reduce greenhouse gas emissions by switching to biofuels.

Today, future alternative ship fuels such as zero-carbon hydrogen, ammonia, or e-methanol remain unavailable. However, the International Maritime Organization has permitted the use of biofuels, provided their well-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions are at least 65% below marine gas oil.

Wallem is proud to already be operating ships on biofuels up to B30 blends after developing the necessary technical knowledge and operational training. Our recently released white paper, Marine Biofuels: Adoption, use and best practice offers comprehensive guidance on the precautions owners and crew need to consider before and during use of biofuels, from fuel management procedures to crew training and safety.

In addition, Wallem helps its clients to create comprehensive biofuel strategies: forecasting onboard demand, estimating cost-to-comply metrics, and giving real-world insights to help reduce total costs. Currently, we are also gearing up to manage higher blend biofuels as demand and availability increases.

As we continue to prepare for shipping’s future fuels mix, Wallem has trained 39 staff in methanol fuel operations and finalised an ammonia fuel training programme that began certification in mid-2025.

We are also preparing to manage a Flettner Rotor-equipped wind assisted bulk carrier and tracking nuclear propulsion developments, including those from NEMO and advancements in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

With the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and FuelEU Maritime also having a significant impact on our customers, Wallem is taking other steps to ensure that its compliance services are ‘end-to-end’. This begins by capturing vessel emissions data, validating and seamlessly transmitting certified data to the EU’s Thetis platform, with minimal manual intervention.

Every vessel under our care met its EU ETS reporting requirements punctually in 2024 and 2025.

For FuelEU, our support is threefold, involving crafting biofuel strategies tailored to each ship’s compliance profile, giving clients access to market intelligence and offering real-time cost-of-compliance reports so that operators can make informed decisions month by month.

But Wallem’s commitment to shipping’s green transition does not end there. We offer input into newbuild design and consultancy on green finance, as well as emissions data management and voyage optimisation. Wallem also has experience and expertise in energy-saving technologies which can ensure existing vessels remain compliant for years to come.

Joining the Global Maritime Forum (GMF) in 2024 aligned Wallem with the Getting to Zero Coalition and Human Sustainability Initiatives, reflecting a commitment to a cleaner and safer shipping industry.

Shipping is no stranger to adversity: from pandemics to geopolitical shocks, the industry adapts. With 122 years of history behind us, Wallem knows how to adapt - technically, operationally, and strategically.

Whether it’s decarbonising a single ship or building a green fleet, Wallem can be a partner from strategy through to execution.