Biofuel

Korea: HMM, GS Caltex begin pilot operation of boxship running bio bunker fuel

HMM’s 6,400 TEU boxship was refuelled with GS Caltex’s B30 biofuel and will depart from Busan to Singapore; vessel will operate along the India and South America route.

Published

2 years ago

September 18, 2023

Admin

South Korean oil refiner GS Caltex on Friday (15 September) said it launched a pilot operation of a container ship that runs on its bio bunker fuel in collaboration with Korea-based integrated logistics company HMM in Busan.

HMM’s 6,400 TEU containership HMM TACOMA was refuelled with GS Caltex’s B30 bio marine fuel and will depart from Busan to Singapore. It will operate along the India and South America route, GS Caltex said in a statement.

The B30 biofuel was manufactured based on heavy fuel oil and biodiesel made from waste cooking oil, GS Caltex said.

GS Caltex’s B30 bio marine fuel supplied for this pilot operation, is manufactured from GS Caltex marine heavy oil and marine biodiesel produced from waste cooking oil by DS Danseok, a domestic biofuel company.

Seung-Hoon Lee, Vice President of GS Caltex, said, “We are the first domestic oil refinery to produce biofuel and have started our first pilot operation. We plan to expand the supply of biofuel not only to domestic shipping companies but also to global shipping companies that refuel in Korean territorial waters to reduce carbon emissions in the shipping sector.”

HMM said, “We will continue to make efforts to reduce greenhouse gases through Korea’s first pilot operation of biofuel and we plan to become a global top-tier shipping company by strengthening eco-friendly competitiveness.”

In April, Manifold Times reported HMM signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with oil refiner GS Caltex to secure marine biofuels.

The marine biofuels comprise 30% biodiesel derived from used cooking oil and 70% high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO).

In 2021, HMM performed the first test voyage using biofuels on its 13,100TEU containership. The vessel HMM Dream, deployed in EC1 (East Coast 1) service connecting Asia and the US East Coast, successfully completed the voyage in the Pacific Ocean.

Photo credit: GS Caltex
Published: 18 September, 2023

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Biofuel

Chimbusco and SPG complete first biofuel bunkering operation in Northern China

Chimbusco’s “DA YUAN YOU 8” tanker refuelled the “HMM VANCOUVER” with 1,300 metric tonnes of B24 biofuel at Qingdao Port.

Published

3 days ago

June 20, 2025

Admin

Chimbusco and SPG achieves first biofuel bunkering operation in Northern China

China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co Ltd (Chimbusco) and Shandong Port Group (SPG) recently said they successfully completed the first B24 biofuel bunkering operation in Northern China on 14 June.

Chimbusco’s “DA YUAN YOU 8 ” tanker refuelled the “HMM VANCOUVER” with 1,300 metric tonnes (mt) of B24 biofuel at Qingdao Port.

Chimbusco said the successful bunkering operation not only marks a milestone in the bonded biofuel bunkering business for international voyage vessels in northern China but also represents a critical milestone in the green and low-carbon transformation of the shipping industry around the Bohai Sea and throughout northern China.

B24 biofuel is a blend of 24% waste cooking oil and 76% high-sulphur fuel oil. Authoritatively certified, the company said this fuel can significantly reduce carbon emissions from vessel operations by up to 20%, providing shipowners with an efficient and convenient low-carbon solution to comply with increasingly stringent International Maritime Organization (IMO) emission reduction regulations.

Since the beginning of this year, Chimbusco said it has achieved top records of bunkering volumes in the green fuel sector. From the first successful operation at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in eastern China to subsequent bunkering operations in Shenzhen, Xiamen, and other major ports across the country, the company has further consolidated its regular supply capabilities.

During this in-depth cooperation with SPG’s Qingdao Port, Chimbusco’s “Green Energy Label” made its debut at the operation site.

“This further confirms that Chimbusco is deploying green fuel bunkering services to help Chinese ports accelerate the construction of a maritime green energy supply network,” the company said.

Photo credit: Shandong Port Group
Published: 20 June, 2025

Biofuel

NYK Trading-chartered bunker barge operates on bio bunker fuel since March

Company says it has been chartering a biofuel-powered bunker barge “No. 28 Seihosan Maru”, operated by Asahi Tanker, in Tokyo Bay since March.

Published

5 days ago

June 18, 2025

Admin

NYK Trading-chartered bunker barge operates on bio bunker fuel since March

NYK Trading on Monday (16 June) said it has been chartering a biofuel-powered bunker barge, No. 28 Seihosan Maru, operated by Asahi Tanker in Tokyo Bay since March.

This marks the first actual operation of a coastal ship operated by Asahi Tanker.

The biofuel that the vessel has begun using is a mixture of conventional marine fuel oil A and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) made from waste edible oil. The FAME provided by NYK Trading uses high-purity biodiesel fuel (ReESEL).

NYK Trading said it will continue to contribute to the accelerating trend toward decarbonisation and reduce CO2 emissions by promoting the use of biofuel and building a supply system.

Photo credit: NYK Trading
Published: 18 June, 2025

Digital platform

Ofiniti eBDN solution chosen by FincoEnergies for marine biofuel ops in ARA region

Development takes place on the back of complex logistics and opaque operational processes experienced by the marine (bio)fuel market; which Ofiniti’s FuelBoss eBDN solution seeks to simplify.

Published

5 days ago

June 17, 2025

Admin

Rotterdam-based FincoEnergies, an independent, leading supplier of (bio)fuels and decarbonisation services for the transport sector, will be adopting Ofiniti’s FuelBoss eBDN technology, with operational support from VT Group.

The development takes place on the back of complex logistics and opaque operational processes experienced by the marine (bio)fuel market; which Ofiniti’s FuelBoss eBDN solution seeks to simplify.

“Schedules are becoming increasingly tighter as demand for sustainable biofuels grows,” explains Leon Arets, Trading & Operations Director at FincoEnergies.

“We’re adopting a platform that enhances structure and responsiveness. This digital leap allows us to not only scale efficiently but also deliver greater transparency and operational excellence to our clients.”

A spin-off from global assurance and risk management leader DNV, Ofiniti brings together deep industry know-how with cutting-edge technology. Its flagship platform, FuelBoss, is designed to replace cumbersome manual processes with streamlined digital workflows that boost efficiency and data reliability.

“Our work with LNG suppliers laid the groundwork,” notes Oliver Brix Sparsø, Global Director of Sales at Ofiniti. “But this collaboration with FincoEnergies and VT Group marks the first large-scale commitment to digital delivery workflows for biofuels. It’s a turning point for the region.”

FincoEnergies’ mission, Decarbonising the transport industry together, is grounded in collaboration and innovation. The partnership with Ofiniti and VT Group exemplifies this spirit, combining technological leadership with operational expertise.

“As operators, we continuously look for ways to improve life on board and support our partners,” adds Wouter van Reenen, Business Development Manager at VT Group. “FuelBoss is a strong fit for our operations and those of our chartering clients.”