ExxonMobil on Thursday (10 September) said it has safely completed a successful sea trial using the company’s first marine bio fuel oil with shipping company Stena Bulk after a bunkering operation at the port of Rotterdam. 

The marine bio fuel oil is a 0.50% sulphur residual-based fuel (VLSFO) processed with a second generation waste-based FAME component (ISCC certified), it added.

The product will be available later this year, initially in Rotterdam before a wider launch across the ExxonMobil port network.

The sea trial was designed and completed as part of ExxonMobil’s assessment and trial protocol to demonstrate that there were no adverse equipment effects when operating with higher levels of bio components, explained ExxonMobil.

The trial was carried out while the vessel was in commercial operation and included evaluation of on-board storage, handling, treatment, and the fuel was consumed in engines and other machinery on-board.

The company noted that the  sea trial demonstrated that the marine bio fuel oil, which can provide a CO2 emission reduction of up to approximately 40% compared with conventional marine fuel can be used in a relevant marine application without modification and can help operators take a significant step towards meeting their carbon emissions reduction targets.

“With new marine fuels coming to market recently, the need for quality fuels that are both reliable and ISO compliant has never been greater,” said Cowan Lee, Marine Fuels Marketing Manager at ExxonMobil. 

“ExxonMobil’s new marine bio fuel oil meets that growing need as it has been extensively tested, is sulphur compliant and can make a significant contribution in helping operators reduce their CO2 emissions.”

“As operators face increasingly stringent regulations and significant pressure from customers to demonstrate their commitment to reducing GHG emissions, this is an important next step in providing the lower-emissions fuels that operators want and need,” Lee added.

“We believe biofuels have an important role to play in accelerating the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in shipping,” said Erik Hånell, President and CEO Stena Bulk. 

“The fuel performed very well and fitted seamlessly into our technical and commercial operation without the need for engine modifications or additional procedures, while contributing to a significant reduction of CO2 emissions.”

“As a residual fuel, it can be dropped-in without the need for expensive modification and can help provide ship operators immediate CO2 savings compared to full hydrocarbon fuel,” added John Larese, Marine Fuels Technical Advisor at ExxonMobil.

Photo credit: ExxonMobil
Published: 11 September, 2020