British Columbia-based lithium-polymer battery maker Corvus Energy announced May 14 that a new diesel-electric hybrid ferry operated by Denmark-based Scandlines has now been commissioned for commercial service.

Ohio-based Interlake Steamship Co. announced May 6 that it signed an “agreement in principle” with Shell for liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker fuel supplies for Interlake’s proposed conversion of its nine-vessel U.S. Great Lakes shipping fleet to LNG power.

MAN announced May 14 that Teekay Tankers is estimating that MAN’s “G-type” marine diesel engine could deliver from 20% to 30% bunker fuel savings on new-build ships.

Volvo subsidiary Nova Bus announced last month that it won a US$148-million order from the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) for 300 “LFS Smart” buses.

U.K.-based Bestobell Valves announced May 13 that it won a “preferred supplier” deal from Wärtsilä Gas Power Systems (GPS) to supply cryogenic valves for Wärtsilä’s “LNGPac” liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship-fueling system.

Diesel emissions catalyst giant Johnson Matthey (JM) announced May 13 in its latest “Platinum 2013” report that the global platinum market was in deficit by 375,000 ounces in 2012.

Global crude oil import prices are likely to drop from an average US$109 per barrel (/bbl) currently to near $93/bbl over the next five years – thanks in large part to “transformative” unconventional crude oil-production growth in North America, according to the latest International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Medium-Term Oil Market Report (MTOMR) released May 14.

Italy-based, diesel-oriented oil refiner and integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) electric power producer Saras posted a corporate-wide net loss of €1.8 million (US$2.3 million) for first-quarter (1Q) 2013, compared to a net profit of €14.1 million ($18 million) in 1Q 2012.

Australia-based New Hope Group told Gasification News on May 10 that it has launched construction of a “small-scale” coal-to-liquids (CTL) research and development plant at the Jeebropilly mine site near Ipswich, Queensland.

U.S. federal taxpayer subsidies for compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicle fuels enabled California-based CNG/LNG seller Clean Energy Fuels to slash its net loss for first-quarter (1Q) 2013 to US$3.9 million, compared to a $31.9 million net loss in 1Q 2012.

A new survey of U.S. trucking executives by Pennsylvania-based PLS Logistics finds that 9% of those surveyed would consider buying a trucking fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) “at some point in the future.”

Parkland Fuel announced May 13 that it cut a deal with Shell Canada to distribute liquefied natural gas (LNG) to oil and gas exploration operations and off-grid power generators.

In its latest monthly Oil Market Report (issued May 14), the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that global oil demand in 2013 will rise to 90.6 million barrels per day (b/d), a slight increase from last month’s forecast.

Calgary, Alberta-based Husky Energy announced May 9 that its first-quarter (1Q) 2013 net earnings declined to Cdn$535 million (US$529 million) compared to Cdn$591 million ($584 million) in 1Q 2012, mainly due to lower crude prices.

A new study by Lux Research finds that global natural gas vehicles (NGVs) will “only” total 7.5 million by 2020 because of the relatively high cost of building compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure along with the relatively high cost of CNG/LNG vehicles.

A joint venture between Australia-based Bunuwal Group and Cambridge Gulf won an A$160-million (US$160.3-million) contract to supply diesel fuel to the Gove aluminum refinery and bauxite mine in Nhulunbuy, Australia.

An early version of the May 13 edition of Diesel Fuel News had the incorrect email contact address for Jon Gabrielsen, the author of a study on the relative cost issues with liquefied natural gas versus diesel in trucking and railroading.

Ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) prices in most major spot and futures markets fell last week on higher stocks and relatively healthy refiner output.