Germany-based industrial gas producer Linde and the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) announced February 10 the launch of a feasibility study for the possible installation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship fuel bunkering.

Germany-based diesel engine and vehicle maker MAN announced February 14 that its 2011 revenues hit €16.5 billion (US$21.6 billion) – a new record – up from €14.7 billion (US$19.3 billion) in 2010.

Mazda on February 16 launched the commercial sale of its “CX-5” sport utility vehicle (SUV) featuring its novel “Skyactiv-D” diesel emissions-control system that doesn’t require urea-selective catalytic reduction (SCR) for nitrogen oxide (NOX) control, nor a lean-NOX catalyst.

Global vehicle maker Daimler on February 15 inaugurated a new assembly plant in Colombia for production of Euro-4 and Euro-5 diesel buses, not only for the local market but also for export to other South American countries.

Texas-based Rush Enterprises – which describes itself as the “largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in North America” – on February 15 reported record annual revenues along with the highest quarterly pre-tax income in the company’s history.

Sweden-based Alfa Laval announced February 13 that it won a contract from Amsterdam-based ship operator Spliethoff Group for a marine diesel emissions scrubbing system described as the “largest-ever sold.”

Japan-based Eco Marine Power (EMP) on January 30 unveiled a concept ship design incorporating its Aquarius Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) system including both wind-sail power as well as solar power – with the potential to slash bunker-fuel consumption by 40%.

Compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) today are selling at a substantial discount to diesel fuel in the North American market – and that gas price advantage (roughly US$1.50 per diesel-gallon equivalent) is likely to continue for years to come, according to various forecasts.

The European Parliament’s Environment Committee on February 16 voted to approve legislation that would greatly expand a 0.1% sulfur bunker fuel mandate in 2015 to all European Union (EU) territorial seas, rather than just the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the English Channel.

Houston-based KBR announced February 14 that it won a contract from TAIF Group to provide licensing and engineering for the Veba Combi Cracker (VCC) project at the Nizhnikamsk refinery in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia.

The Syntroleum/Tyson Foods “Dynamic Fuels” joint venture and U.S. fuel wholesaler Mansfield Oil announced February 14 that they signed a deal to supply renewable-diesel fuel to U.S. railroad giant Norfolk Southern.

Texas-based Fluor announced February 14 that it won an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract from Massachusetts-based Joule Unlimited for an demonstration plant in New Mexico that would tap sunlight and carbon dioxide to make all-hydrocarbon diesel fuel.

Petrobras announced February 10 that its 2011 net income fell by 5%, to Rs$33.3 billion (US$19.3 billion).

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez – a big friend of dictators including Cuba’s Fidel Castro, the late Libya dictator Moammar Gadhafi, Iranian president Mahmoud Admadinejad and now Syrian president Bashar Assad – on Thursday declared that nobody can tell Venezuela where to sell its fuel.

Ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) spot and futures prices in major markets rose last week as stocks and output fell in the U.S., and European output declined.