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FOBAS: MARPOL Annex VI and the use of Marine Biofuels

FOBAS recommends ship operators intending to use biofuels or biofuel blends should obtain confirmation from relevant flag State if they will be following the new UI.

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Lloyd’s Register Fuel Oil Bunkering Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) on Monday (15 August) released a bulletin responding to numerous questions on the approved a Unified Interpretation (UI) in relation to use of biofuels and how to now proceed to use these biofuels:

Many ship operators over the last few years have been looking at the possibility of using one or the other marine biofuel grades being offered, either as a straight replacement fuel or supplied as a blend component with conventional petroleum derived residual or distillate products; typically, at ratios between 20-50%.

However, a major impediment to this biofuel usage in any form has been the requirement under regulation 18.3.2.2 of MARPOL Annex VI that:

‘... fuel oil for combustion purposes derived by methods other than petroleum refining shall not cause an engine to exceed the applicable NOx emission limit set forth in paragraphs 3, 4, 5.11 and 7.4 of regulation 13....’

This has necessitated applications in each instance for an exemption from the flag State to undertake the necessary biofuel trials onboard which of course have had to cover not just the basic functionality of using those fuels but also the determination of NOx emissions in accordance with the relevant provisions of the NOx Technical Code 2008 – a complex and time-consuming task with which FOBAS has been assisting a number of ship operators with trial supporting services. A summary of findings to date was issued earlier this year.

In June MEPC 78 approved a Unified Interpretation (UI) in relation to the use of biofuels – paragraph 13 in the updated consolidated IMO Circular MEPC.1/Circ,795/Rev.6. However, FOBAS has received numerous questions on both this UI itself and how to now proceed where there is the intention to use these biofuels; either as a replacement fuel or as a blend component. To answer these points FOBAS has advised as follows as regards the meaning of this UI:

  • Biofuel blends of 30% by volume or less should simply be considered as conventional petroleum derived fuels
  • For biofuels and biofuel blends of more than 30% by volume, if NOx critical components and settings / operational values are as required by an engine’s Technical File then NOx emission trials should not be required
  • For non-petroleum derived fuels other than biofuels the provisions of regulation 18.3.2.2 continue to apply.

In this it is important to note that this is a UI which Administrations are ‘invited to apply’, the actual text of MARPOL Annex VI has not been amended.

Consequently, FOBAS would recommend that ship operators now intending to use biofuels or biofuel blends should obtain confirmation from the relevant flag State that they will be following the guidance provided by this UI and that NOx emission trials would not be required on the basis that the engines in which that fuel is to be used will be retained in a NOx compliant condition.

Equally, ship operators with existing flag States acceptances as the use of restricted biofuel blends, should obtain confirmation that, if so required, higher ratios of biofuels could now be used without the need for further NOx emission trials.

LR FOBAS support

  • FOBAS is able to continue to offer a full range of NOx emission trial support services covering the planning, risk assessments, performance calculation and reporting as may be required where ship operators still intend to undertake such trials as part of an ‘in-house’ performance assessment.
  • Furthermore, FOBAS offers a comprehensive biofuel quality analysis programme to sufficiently characterise the biofuels ensuring trouble free operations onboard.

Related: IBIA: Boost for biofuels as IMO removes regulatory hurdle

 

Photo credit: Louis Reed from Unsplash
Published: 16 August, 2022

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Biofuel

Bunker Holding scales up biofuel bunker availability to over 80 ports worldwide

Group is providing different types of lower carbon products as well as blends of biofuels and conventional marine fuels and can deliver those products to numerous ports.

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Marine fuel supplier Bunker Holding on Tuesday (3 October) said it has now secured bio bunker fuel availability in more than 80 ports around the world, catering to last mile delivery. 

With the recent adoption of the FuelEU Maritime regulation, the entering into force of the IMO CII, and the inclusion of shipping in the EU ETS just around the corner, the Group said it is ready to help clients with the optimal solutions to reduce their GHG emissions.

Valerie Ahrens, Senior Director of New Fuels and Carbon Markets at Bunker Holding, said: “Bunker Holding is overcoming the challenges from the green transition simultaneously with our customers. It is affecting how we conduct business in a changing market, driven by the new IMO GHG strategy and new regulations such as IMO CII, EU ETS, and FuelEU maritime.”

“We are all in the same boat but as a leading marine fuel supplier with an extensive network and global reach, we are well positioned and equipped to help our clients. Much of our work has gone into building strong and reliable supplier relations, which are essential to ensuring we can connect reliable suppliers with the end-users of biofuel globally.”

Manja Ostertag, Head of Biofuels, who is coordinating the global efforts to develop the supply of biofuels in key regions and ports, said: “During the past months, we have been intensifying our efforts on ensuring biofuel availability at numerous ports and at a global scale. This puts the Group in a unique position as a marine fuel supplier. Providing a relevant and competitive value proposition including low-carbon fuels is a crucial part of our New Fuels strategy and key to succeed as a business, given the upcoming IMO and EU regulations.”

As part of this effort, Bunker Holding and its subsidiaries are focusing on the individual needs of its clients. As every segment and business in the marine sector is different and hence might have different needs, Bunker Holding, through its affiliates, aims to provide customised and compliant solutions. That means the Group is providing different types of lower carbon products as well as blends of biofuels and conventional fuels and can deliver those products not only to flow ports, such as ARA and Singapore, but also in numerous other ports.

During the past months, biofuels have been bunkered by the Group to different segments, reaching from cruise and ferry lines and container ships to offshore clients and even smaller businesses.

“When delivering lower carbon fuel solutions to our clients, it is crucial for us to work with reliable certified suppliers that have the same high principles on delivering product quality and sustainability as we have. Such reliable supply chains are indispensable in delivering relevant value to our clients,” says Manja Ostertag.

Bunker Holding is not only delivering lower carbon fuel solutions through its affiliates, such as Biofuels or LNG, but also prepares for the evolving offtake of alternative marine fuels, such as methanol and ammonia. In addition to that, the Group supports its clients in any topic around EU ETS, such as buying EUA’s (EU Allowances). As an advisor for the green energy transition, the Group wants to position itself as a one-stop-shop to its clients.

Photo credit: Bunker Holding
Published: 4 October, 2023

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Alternative Fuels

Cepsa begins supplying bio bunker fuel at Port of Barcelona

Firm said it has undertaken the largest supply of second-generation biofuels to date at the Port of Barcelona; firm supplied biodiesel to Hapag-Lloyd-operated boxship.

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Cepsa begins supplying bio bunker fuel at Port of Barcelona

Spain’s energy for maritime transport supplier Cepsa on Monday (2 October) said it has undertaken the largest supply of second-generation biofuels to date at the Port of Barcelona. 

The operation, conducted on a 350-metre-long container vessel operated by Hapag-Lloyd in the Mediterranean, marks the energy company's inaugural venture in Barcelona and positions the Port of Barcelona as a key player in the decarbonisation of maritime transportation.

The supplied biodiesel contains a 24% sustainable component, which will prevent the emission of 2,860 tons of CO2, equivalent to planting 34,300 trees. This biofuel has been produced from used cooking oils.

Currently, the energy company can supply these sustainable fuels by barge in the Port of Barcelona and the area of the Strait of Gibraltar, and by tanker in all the ports in which it operates.

Samir Fernández, director of Marine Fuel Solutions at Cepsa, said: “Second-generation biofuels can be used in ships without the need for modifications to their engines, and they have a high potential for reducing CO2 emissions compared to conventional fossil fuels, achieving a reduction of up to 90%, which makes them an ideal immediate solution.”

“That’s why we want to make them available in all the ports in which we operate and lead their production in this decade to help our customers meet their own decarbonisation challenges.”

The company said it aspires to be the leading biofuel producer in Spain and Portugal by 2030, with a production capacity of 2.5 million tons annually, and green hydrogen, with 2 GW of electrolysis capacity.

Photo credit: Cepsa
Published: 4 October, 2023

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Alternative Fuels

KPI OceanConnect hosts alternative fuels & carbon markets forum in Greece

Forum brought together marine energy experts to talk on bio bunker fuels, their regulation and adoption and their important role in helping the shipping industry comply with emissions regulations.

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KPI OceanConnect hosts alternative fuels & carbon markets forum in Greece

Global marine energy solutions provider KPI OceanConnect on Tuesday (3 October) said it held its Alternative Fuels & EU ETS Forum for clients in Greece on 27 September, where it brought together a line-up of marine energy experts to talk about biofuels, their regulation and adoption and their important role in helping the shipping industry comply with emissions regulations. 

For the evening’s seminar, speakers included KPI OceanConnect’s Jesper Sørensen, Global Head of Alternative Fuels & Carbon Markets, and from Bunker Holding, Valerie Ahrens, Senior Director of New Fuels & Carbon Markets and Manja Ostertag, Head of Biofuels. They were joined by Maria Tzigianni of Bureau Veritas’ VeriFuel. 

The speakers presented on the range of biofuel products available to the marine sector and how the market for these products is shaped by the oil market, feedstock sectors such as agriculture, and regulations at national, regional and global levels. Delegates also learnt about pilot projects that had tested the performance of biofuels and measured how they would help ship owners and operators to decarbonise. 

More than 100 guests attended an evening at Golf Privé in Glyfada, Athens, and were welcomed by Michalis Manassakis, Managing Director, KPI OceanConnect Athens. Attendees followed a very interesting seminar and were also able to learn more about KPI OceanConnect’s values and main activations through interactive touchscreen technology.

With EU ETS regulations coming into effect in the shipping industry on January 1st 2024, KPI OceanConnect’s guests also heard about the important role that voluntary and regulated carbon markets would have in helping the shipping industry to decarbonise. 

The shipping industry, vessel owners and operators in particular, face many important questions about decarbonisation, while ongoing innovation means the alternative fuels market is constantly moving.

In its role as a provider of marine fuels, the firm said it was important that KPI OceanConnect shares its knowledge and expertise with its clients and customers.

Michalis Manassakis, said: “It was a pleasure to host a frank and open discussion for so many of our friends in the Greek market and we are grateful to have had so many join us today. As the shipping sector tackles the decarbonisation challenge, it is important that we help our partners to understand the changes that are happening in the marine energy market. And that we work to build trust in the supply of products that will drive forward the energy transition in our sector.”

Photo credit: KPI OceanConnect
Published: 4 October, 2023

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