GCMD trial confirms long-term operational feasibility of B24 biofuel blend in vessels

A six-month trial on a Pure Car and Truck Carrier confirmed that continuous use of a B24 blend had no adverse impact on engine performance or the operation of the fuel oil delivery system, said the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) on Thursday (18 September). 

GCMD said this when releasing its Project LOTUS (Long-term impact of continuous use of biofuels on vessel operations) report.

Launched in partnership with NYK Line on 9 May 2024, the trial onboard a pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) assessed the impact of continuous use of a B24 blend, comprising 24% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME; also known as biodiesel) with very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), on engine performance and operations of the fuel oil delivery systems. 

Using a structured monitoring framework, GCMD tracked fuel and lubricant quality at key sampling points across these systems, and inspected engines and fuel systems components throughout the trial. 

Key findings

Project LOTUS involved extensive laboratory testing of 94 fuel and 91 lubricating oil samples, alongside detailed engine inspections and measurements during the vessel’s scheduled post-trial dry dock.

The main and generator engines, which ran on B24 for 2,888 and 1,813 hours, respectively, performed comparably to when they operated on VLSFO.

Key observations confirmed no excessive sludge in fuel injection valves, no scratches in fuel injection pump plungers, and no liner or piston wear beyond original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications. Scavenge drain and engine oil analyses also showed no excessive wear elements.

While the acid value of B24 blends increased 2.5-fold after six months of storage, the fuel quality remained within ISO 8217 specifications. No microbial growth was observed in fuel samples.

With these findings, OEMs confirmed engine and hardware compatibility with long- term B24 use, with no significant impact on operational costs, provided appropriate maintenance and handling practices are followed.

A key outcome of Project LOTUS is the development of a structured monitoring framework designed around operational considerations for biodiesel use to systematically track equipment performance and identify anomalies arising from biodiesel operations.

A data log template was created based on an existing engine log and tailored to address the project’s specific needs. Now that this template has been successfully piloted, it is publicly available and can be further customised to accommodate different vessel setups.

Professor Lynn Loo, CEO of GCMD, said:  “Project LOTUS grounds the conversation around the extended use of biofuels in evidence. Our findings show that they can be deployed safely and reliably, providing a concrete pathway for shipping’s decarbonisation.

Nobuhiro Kashima, Senior Managing Executive Office of NYK Line, said, “The use of biofuels is one of the key options for advancing the sustainable development of the maritime industry. We hope that the outcomes of this project will offer new possibilities to those considering the adoption of biofuels and help accelerate their broader use in various fields. By sharing the value of decarbonisation and logistics across society, we aim to help shape the next generation of shipping together.”

Note: The report can be accessed here.

Photo credit: Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
Published: 18 September, 2025