A Comprehensive Multicriteria Evaluation Approach for Alternative Marine Fuels

Abstract

In the last decade, shipping decarbonization has accelerated rapidly in response to the regulatory framework. Shifting toward alternative marine fuel options is the subject of extensive study from stakeholders and researchers. This study attempts to propose a decision support model for alternative fuel evaluation. The decision-making process is multidimensional, comprising economic, technical, environmental, and social aspects, and has been carried out with the aid of the outranking multicriteria methodology, Promethee II. The approach is based on a comprehensive list of 11 criteria and 25 sub-criteria, covering all the crucial aspects. The weighting criteria process postulates the viewpoints of six stakeholder categories, including all the stakeholders’ preferences: shipowners, fuel suppliers, industry and engine manufacturers, academics, banks and the public. The results demonstrated that although LNG, MGO and HFO are classified in the highest positions, there are renewable options that also appear in high-ranking positions in most categories and especially among academics, banks, the public and in the combined case scenario. The commercially available options of drop-in biofuels, bio and e-LNG, fossil and bio methanol were ranked in these high positions. This approach offers insight into the assessment and selection of alternative marine fuel options, providing an incentive for strategic planning.