A new Engine Retrofit Report by Lloyd’s Register concludes that a shortage of repair yards with experience in conversions may hinder the take up of alternative fuel technology by the existing fleet.

A Lloyd’s Register (LR) report on the state of technology, integration and compliance, alongside the business case for retrofitting vessels, has found that repair yard capability and capacity concerns could thwart the uptake of alternative fuel technology onboard existing ships.

The Engine Retrofit Report, has identified that retrofitting a significant number of the 9,000 and 12,900 large merchant vessels estimated to be part of the global fleet in 2030, could rapidly accelerate the maritime energy transition. However, it warns that these ambitions could be jeopardised by the limited number of repair yards currently capable of performing such conversions.