ORLEN and Port of Gdynia Explore LNG and bioLNG Bunkering to Support Maritime Decarbonisation

ORLEN and Port of Gdynia Explore LNG and bioLNG Bunkering to Support Maritime Decarbonisation

(IN BRIEF) ORLEN and the Port of Gdynia Authority have agreed to explore the development of LNG and bioLNG bunkering services for marine vessels along the Polish coast. The partnership will assess market demand, infrastructure requirements, regulatory conditions and potential operating models, including ship-to-ship bunkering and fuel supply while vessels are alongside. Particular attention will be given to ferry, container and ro-ro operators. The initiative supports ORLEN’s fuel portfolio transformation through 2035 and comes as the FuelEU Maritime framework drives demand for lower-emission shipping fuels. The partners aim to help establish the foundations for a broader alternative marine fuels ecosystem in Poland.

(PRESS RELEASE) PŁOCK, 4-Sep-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — ORLEN and the Port of Gdynia Authority have signed an agreement to assess the development of LNG and bioLNG bunkering services for marine vessels, as both organisations explore infrastructure and market solutions that could expand access to alternative fuels along the Polish coast.

The cooperation will examine market demand, the potential scale of LNG and bioLNG bunkering, required infrastructure, operating conditions and the regulatory framework needed to support future services.

One of the main areas under consideration will be waterside bunkering, including ship-to-ship operations, where fuel is transferred directly from a bunker vessel to another ship while in port.

ORLEN expands alternative fuel strategy

Robert Soszyński, Vice President of the ORLEN Management Board for Operations, said the cooperation with the Port of Gdynia forms part of the Group’s broader fuel portfolio transformation through 2035.

Under ORLEN’s strategy, natural gas, including LNG, is expected to retain an important role as a transitional fuel supporting energy security and transport decarbonisation.

The company is seeking to strengthen capabilities across the full value chain, including fuel sourcing, logistics and final use.

At the same time, ORLEN is developing renewable fuel capabilities, including bioLNG, which the company sees as a potential route for reducing emissions in heavy-duty road transport and shipping.

Soszyński said ORLEN’s ambition is to work with ports not only as a fuel supplier but also as a partner in developing infrastructure and market conditions for alternative marine fuels in Poland and the wider region.

Port of Gdynia prepares for changing vessel fuel requirements

Piotr Gorzeński, CEO of the Port of Gdynia Authority, said the shipping industry’s energy transition is already changing the fuel and technology requirements faced by ports.

Shipowners are increasingly examining ways to reduce emissions, while ports need to be capable of serving vessels using a wider range of propulsion technologies and fuels.

The Port of Gdynia therefore aims to develop sufficient flexibility to respond to changing market conditions over the coming decades.

Its cooperation with ORLEN on LNG and bioLNG bunkering forms part of this broader strategy.

Partnership to examine ship-to-ship and alongside bunkering

The cooperation will include knowledge sharing and an assessment of requirements among shipowners and port users, particularly operators of scheduled ferry, container and ro-ro services.

ORLEN and the Port of Gdynia will also analyse bunkering models used at other European ports.

Among the options under review will be the suitability of ship-to-ship bunkering for larger vessels and the possibility of supplying fuel while ships are alongside the berth.

The partners will also examine whether bunkering could take place in parallel with cargo-handling operations.

Any future model would need to meet safety requirements while minimising disruption to vessel traffic, maintaining berth availability and preserving the efficiency and continuity of terminal operations.

FuelEU Maritime reshapes marine fuel market

The initiative comes as European shipping faces increasingly stringent emissions requirements.

The FuelEU Maritime regulatory framework has applied since 2025 and progressively tightens limits on the greenhouse gas intensity of energy used aboard ships.

As the rules develop, shipowners and ports are preparing for a maritime fuel market in which several technologies are expected to coexist.

These include LNG, bioLNG, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen.

ORLEN said its cooperation with partners along the Polish coast is intended to strengthen its role in the energy transition of transport and logistics while expanding its alternative-fuel capabilities.

Building an alternative marine fuels ecosystem in Poland

The initiatives being pursued with the Port of Gdynia are intended as long-term measures that can help establish the foundations for an alternative marine fuels ecosystem in Poland.

ORLEN is expanding its work in LNG and bioLNG as alternative fuels become increasingly important to transport decarbonisation.

The company is also exploring new applications for liquefied gas fuels where they can support lower emissions and operational efficiency while responding to changing requirements across the European transport market.

Media Contact:

Press Office at: media@orlen.pl

SOURCE: ORLEN