Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) on Monday (4 December) said it was hosting an exclusive webinar hosted by Alpha Biofuels in the next instalment of SSA’s Educational Talks on 8 December. 

Alpha Biofuels’ Founder and CEO Mr Allan Lim will share insights into the diverse types of biofuels available in the market and cover their widespread applications across various industries, including shipping. 

The talk will cover topics focused on biofuel such as:

• Introduction of Alpha Biofuels

• Exploring Biofuel Types and Usage

• The Importance of Sustainability Certification

• Operational Efficiency and Storage Best Practices:

The details of the event are as follows: 

Date: Friday, 8 December 2023
Time: 4:00pm – 5:00 pm
Venue: ZOOM

Note: To register, click on this link (SSA/098/23/EML) here.

Photo credit: Singapore Shipping Association
Published: 5 December, 2023

Global mining firm Vale on Thursday (30 November) said in partnership with Oldendorff Carriers, it has commenced its first biofuel voyage on a bulk vessel. 

The trial is taking place on an Oldendorff vessel performing a laden Vale voyage from Brazil to Asia, carrying a full cargo of iron ore. 

Hinrich Oldendorff loaded the biofuel in Singapore on 16 October on the ballast voyage to Brazil. The vessel then loaded Vale’s iron ore 29 November at Guaiba Island Terminal and will consume the blended biofuel on the laden leg from Brazil to Asia.

The B24 biofuel on board is a blend of about 24% biodiesel produced with used cooking oil of vegetable origin (286 metric tonnes) and fuel oil. The product supplied is both European Union Renewable Energy Directive (EU RED) compliant and certified by International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC). The expected well-to-wake CO2 equivalent savings is around 18% or 785 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent and will contribute to Vale’s Scope 3 emission reduction.

Using biofuel on the laden voyage is part of the Ecoshipping program, an R&D initiative developed by Vale shipping area to reduce the shipping greenhouse gas emissions in line with the ambitions set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). 

The programme is testing and developing solutions for the use of alternative fuels for shipping, in addition to piloting new energy efficiency technologies. 

Michelle Gonzalez, General Manager of Chartering, Long-Term Contracts and Operations at Vale, said: “We are happy to have great shipping partners committed to support our initiatives and make it happen, genuine collaborations and partnerships will be the key of the success.”

Oldendorff Carriers has previously performed biofuel trials on smaller vessels and for shorter voyages, but this will be Oldendorff's first full voyage consuming biofuel on a Newcastlemax.

Patrick Hutchins, CEO of Oldendorff Carriers, said: “We are delighted that Vale has chosen Oldendorff Carriers for their first biofuel voyage. We look forward to investigating further opportunities together with Vale to advance the shipping and mining industries progress in achieving sustainability goals.”

Photo credit: Vale
Published: 4 December, 2023

Marine biodiesel blend price spreads converged along regional lines in November, as traded values eased in the west Mediterranean but held ground in northwest European ports.

1 December 2023 

The price of B24, a blend comprising 76pc very-low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) and 24pc used cooking oil methyl ester (Ucome), fell to $775.67/t, dob Algeciras-Gibraltar, on 15-30 November from $783.68/t in the two weeks prior.

The price slipped on the back of thinning trading activity as a consequence of limited marine biodiesel bunkering demand in the region, according to market participants. And unbalanced upstream fundamentals on the VLSFO and Ucome markets weighed on market fundamentals for the B24 blend.

Easing prices for marine biodiesel in the Mediterranean were not mirrored in northwest Europe. Argus assessed B30 (Ucome) fob ARA, which combines the European benchmark biodiesel assessment and fob VLSFO barge prices, at an average of $764.32/t in the second half of November — higher by $4.54/t from the average in 1-14 November.

Market participants reported firmer demand in Antwerp for the B30 (Ucome) fob ARA blend, ahead of introduction of the EU emissions trading system (ETS) regulations.

Argus assessed Ucome fob ARA range barges at an average of $1,262.25/t in the second half of November, higher by nearly $40.50/t than the average on 1-14 November as market participants held onto storage with an eye on a contango structure into 2024. As a consequence, the premium commanded by B24 dob Algeciras-Gibraltar to B30 (Ucome) fob ARA narrowed to $11.34/t (or 1.5pc) from $23.90/t (or 3.16pc) in the same timeframe.

The price convergence translated more prominently on the advanced biodiesel marine blend. The B30 advanced fatty acid methyl ester (Fame) 0°C CFPP dob ARA price — which incorporates a significant price deduction for advanced Dutch renewable fuel (HBE-G) tickets, which are available for those domestically blending biofuels produced from feedstocks listed in Annex IX Part A of the EU's Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) — rose to an average of $671.56/t in the second half of the month, from $660.68/t on 

1-14 November.

Market participants said uncertainty was a factor lending measured support to prices in recent weeks, eventually settled by the decision by the Dutch government to reduce the multiplier for biofuels in maritime shipping to 0.4 from 2024. Those in the market have sought to take advantage of the current multiplier of 0.8 before the year ends. B30 advanced Fame dob ARA prices should rise further in 2024 regardless of demand for the blend components, based on a lesser reduction in the HBE-G value that is deducted from the total.

Argus assessed B24 dob Algeciras-Gibraltar at a premium of $104.10/t (or 15.51pc) to the B30 advanced Fame dob ARA on 15-30 November, narrowing from the $123/t (or 18.66pc) premium held in the two weeks prior.

By Hussein Al-Khalisy

Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 4 December, 2023