Marine fuels supplier Monjasa on Thursday (27 March) said it delivered a total of 900 metric tonnes (mt) of B30 biofuel to NYK-operated vessel Hestia Leader in the Port of Cristobal, Panama on 2 February.

This ship-to-ship operation was performed by the 19,991 dwt Monjasa Thunder and marked the first ISCC-certified biofuels supply in Panama and the establishment of a scalable 2nd generation marine biofuels supply chain. This setup is capable of supplying a total of 5,000-7,000 mt monthly.

On 24 March 2025, the Panama Canal Authority announced the introduction of a NetZero Slot designed to support and reward shipowners and operators on their journey towards decarbonisation.

General Manager Latin America, Jonas Bruslund, said: “The introduction of biofuels in Panama has progressed slower than in major bunkering hubs like Singapore or Rotterdam, mainly due to lack of local feedstock and customer commitments.”

“However, we have now developed a viable strategy with a longstanding business partner to ship biofuels products from Europe for the benefit of shipowners operating in the Panama Canal area.”

“The Panama Canal has a strong agenda to promote low-carbon fuels and higher energy efficiency and we are pleased to challenge the status quo and actively support these efforts.”

Monjasa established its local maritime logistics in 2015 and today manages seven vessels across the Atlantic and Pacific areas of the Panama Canal.

In the Americas, Monjasa has already established biofuels partnerships across the port of Callao in Peru and in Cartagena, Colombia.

As an ISCC-certified partner, Monjasa allows all involved parties to trace feedstock used to produce biofuels from the point of origin to the end consumer. On this first supply in Panama, the B30 product consisted of 30% Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) and 70% Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO).

Monjasa still awaits the shift away from sporadic biofuels inquiries to a broader pick-up in demand. Until then, Monjasa aims to continue establishing a string of global biofuels supply locations to support the shipping industry in meeting IMO’s 2050 climate change commitments.

Photo credit: Monjasa
Published: 28 March, 2025

Glander International Bunkering on Wednesday (26 March) said it facilitated two consecutive BioLNG deliveries this month for Neste’s LNG-fuelled tanker fleet. 

During both bunkering operations – one in Antwerp, Belgium and the other in Hamina, Finland – bio-LNG was supplied to reduce the carbon footprint of the vessels, which would otherwise run on fossil LNG.

Alvaro Sierra, Sales Manager at Glander International Bunkering, said: “These deliveries were particularly significant, as we successfully coordinated both supplies at different locations on short notice while ensuring all necessary certifications were in place.”

“It was a demanding operation that required precision, expertise, and strong collaboration, and we successfully delivered.”

To make efficient use of the existing European-wide distribution networks, which are predominantly transporting fossil products, a mass balancing approach was applied, verifying that the agreed upon volume of bio-LNG has been used to replace fossil LNG.

Sander Wilgenhof, Head of Shipping at Neste, said: “Sea transports are one of the most efficient ways to transport our raw materials and refined fuels – and bio-LNG is one of the alternative fuels which allows us to reduce the carbon footprint of our logistics,” he said.

Photo credit: Glander International Bunkering
Published: 27 March, 2025

Swiss-based Sallaum Lines, an international ocean transportation company specialised in global RoRo cargo shipping, on Tuesday (25 March) said it expects to receive numerous biofuel bunker supplies totalling around 3,400 metric tonnes (mt) in 2025. 

This strategy is expected to save around 1,000 mt of CO2 equivalent emissions. 

As part of its transition plan to safe bunkering with biofuels, Sallaum Lines’ vessel, Silver Moon, is now operating on a biofuel blend of 90% Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) and 10% Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME)—a significant step toward reducing harmful emissions and promoting cleaner fuel alternatives.

“This combination reduces harmful emissions and offers a more sustainable fuel profile compared to traditional petroleum-based options. As interest in alternative fuels grows, Sallaum Lines sets a remarkable example for the industry, challenging conventional practices that have persisted for decades.” 

The company added it achieved a reduction of 10% in emissions on its first voyage from South Africa to Europe, marking a crucial milestone in its sustainability journey.

Photo credit: Sallaum Lines
Published: 26 March, 2025