Arkas Bunker on Tuesday (1 October) said it has started to supply biofuel to the maritime industry for the first time in Türkiye.
With the bunkering of Arkas Line’s container vessel, Matilde A, a marine fuel containing environmentally friendly bio-components, entirely produced from waste in Türkiye, has been used for the first time in Türkiye.
The firm said the blended marine fuel, named “Bio24F,” significantly reduces carbon emissions without modifying the vessel’s fuel system.
As the first bunkering company in Türkiye to obtain the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), Arkas Bunker stated it has reached yet another milestone by carrying out the Bio24F bunkering of Arkas Line’s vessel at the port of Marport.
Seckin Gul, General Manager of Arkas Bunker, said: “As Arkas Bunker, we have been working for many years on solutions that comply with international regulations and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vessels. Since the main source of these emissions is the fuel they use, we have focused on sustainable marine fuels.”
“About three years ago, we started research and development on bio-components by taking a closer look at marine biofuels. In February, we achieved our goal for 2024 by obtaining the ISCC certification, becoming Türkiye’s first ISCC-certified bunker supplier.”
“Now, we are marking another first in Türkiye’s maritime industry. Our ISCC-certified product, ‘Bio24F,’ will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vessels, making it much easier for shipowners to achieve their sustainability goals. As Arkas, we continue to develop new products with our expert technical team, using our experience as the owner and operator of Türkiye’s largest container vessel fleet.”
Arkas Line CEO Can Atalay, said, “Türkiye’s first biofuel, Bio24F, was supplied by Arkas Bunker to an Arkas Line vessel for the first time. Our trials have shown that we can reduce carbon emissions without needing any modifications to our vessel’s fuel system.”
“This will help us comply with regulations and bring us closer to our sustainability goals.”
Arkas Bunker added Bio24F represents a strategic advancement in marine fuel technology. It is made by blending 24% ISCC-certified used cooking oil (UCO) with 76% fuel oil (FO).
The UCO component of the biofuel is derived from processing waste collected from restaurants and food facilities. The bio-component in Bio24F is valuable because it can significantly reduce carbon emissions compared to conventional marine fuels.
The fuel oil used in Bio24F is a refined petroleum product that meets International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations. It has a lower sulphur content than traditional high-sulphur fuels, which helps reduce sulphur oxide emissions. Biofuels, which can be blended with fossil fuels and are made from biological sources, aim to play a significant role in reducing emissions from vessels.
Photo credit: Arkas Bunker
Published: 2 October, 2024
