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KPI OceanConnect and Uni-Tankers successfully complete bio bunker fuel trial

KPI OceanConnect supplied 34,000 litres of B30 biofuel blend to Uni-Tankers “M/T Alsia Swan” in Amsterdam for trials; B30 blend consists of 30% blend of FAME with 70% MGO.

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Tanker shipping firm Uni-Tankers and global marine energy solutions provider KPI OceanConnect a leading global on Tuesday (19 September) announced they have completed the successful supply and trial of a bespoke blend of B30 biofuel on Uni-Tankers’ M/T Alsia Swan

The duo said the trials were an important step for understanding the emissions performance of biofuel and validating its potential to help cut carbon emissions. 

The trial took place in Amsterdam on board Uni-Tankers’ 5,700 DWT chemical tanker M/T Alsia Swan. KPI OceanConnect arranged for the supply of 34,000 litres of bio grade fuel containing a 30% blend of FAME (fatty acid methyl esters). The fuel supply was part of a two-day trial, which saw emissions for the biofuel measured and compared with emissions for LSMGO under the same conditions. 

KPI OceanConnect’s local team of traders worked with their Uni-Tankers partners to identify a biofuel to meet their needs. The team oversaw the blending process to ensure the fuel met precise specifications and was on hand for the delivery to ensure the specially blended product supplied for the M/T Alsia Swan trials was good quality. 

Throughout the trial, tests were carried out at four different loads to assess the reliability and performance of the bio-fuel blend. Alongside trials of the B30 biofuel, Uni-Tankers ran identical operations for an LSMGO fuel of equal quality, allowing accurate comparisons of the B30 biofuel performance. Sampling and analysis for the trial was performed by a team from FORCE Technology.

In results from the trial, Uni-Tankers saw particulate matter (PM) emissions reduced by as much as 42% when fuel supply was switched from LSMGO fuel to B30. Carbon monoxide (CO) emissions were also reduced by 18%. By using a blend of 30% biofuel and 70% fossil MGO, M/T Alsia Swan can cut lifecycle emissions of CO2 by an equivalent amount. In a future of tightening regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, this will be an important interim step ship owners can take to maintain compliance and support decarbonisation. 

Jesper Sørensen, Global Head of New Fuels and Carbon Markets, KPI OceanConnect, said: “We are very pleased to be partnering with the Uni-Tankers team on this project to deliver high-grade biofuel for their vessel in Amsterdam. By sharing our knowledge and providing expert guidance on fuel strategies, including finding the right biofuel blend ratio to meet the specific needs of vessel operators, we aim to build partnerships with our clients that support their long-term success through the energy transition in shipping. For KPI OceanConnect our close partnership with Uni-Tankers is a model for delivering excellence to our clients.”

Lisa Clement Jensen, Head of Strategy at Uni-Tankers, commented: “The need to cut emissions is one of the most urgent matters in the shipping industry and we are very pleased to be working with KPI OceanConnect for the biofuel trials on the M/T Alsia Swan. Decarbonization is at the top our strategic agenda and we aim to contribute to a climate-resilient development of the shipping industry. These trials enable us to assess the potential and viability of biofuels as part of our ongoing decarbonization efforts.”

Photo credit: Uni-Tankers
Published: 20 September, 2023

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Alternative Fuels

Singapore Shipping Association to hold webinar on bio bunker fuel 

Alpha Biofuels’ Founder and CEO Mr Allan Lim will share insights into types of biofuel bunkers available in the market and cover their widespread applications across various industries, including shipping.

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Singapore Shipping Association to hold webinar on bio bunker fuel

Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) on Monday (4 December) said it was hosting an exclusive webinar hosted by Alpha Biofuels in the next instalment of SSA’s Educational Talks on 8 December. 

Alpha Biofuels’ Founder and CEO Mr Allan Lim will share insights into the diverse types of biofuels available in the market and cover their widespread applications across various industries, including shipping. 

The talk will cover topics focused on biofuel such as:

• Introduction of Alpha Biofuels

• Exploring Biofuel Types and Usage

• The Importance of Sustainability Certification

• Operational Efficiency and Storage Best Practices:

The details of the event are as follows: 

Date: Friday, 8 December 2023
Time: 4:00pm – 5:00 pm
Venue: ZOOM

Note: To register, click on this link (SSA/098/23/EML) here.

Photo credit: Singapore Shipping Association
Published: 5 December, 2023

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Biofuel

Vale partners with Oldendorff in its first bio bunker fuel trial for iron ore voyage

“Hinrich Oldendorff” loaded biofuel in Singapore on 16 October on ballast voyage to Brazil, B24 biofuel used is a blend of about 24% biodiesel produced with used cooking oil of vegetable origin and fuel oil.

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Vale partners with Oldendorff for its first bio bunker fuel trial for iron ore voyage

Global mining firm Vale on Thursday (30 November) said in partnership with Oldendorff Carriers, it has commenced its first biofuel voyage on a bulk vessel. 

The trial is taking place on an Oldendorff vessel performing a laden Vale voyage from Brazil to Asia, carrying a full cargo of iron ore. 

Hinrich Oldendorff loaded the biofuel in Singapore on 16 October on the ballast voyage to Brazil. The vessel then loaded Vale’s iron ore 29 November at Guaiba Island Terminal and will consume the blended biofuel on the laden leg from Brazil to Asia.

The B24 biofuel on board is a blend of about 24% biodiesel produced with used cooking oil of vegetable origin (286 metric tonnes) and fuel oil. The product supplied is both European Union Renewable Energy Directive (EU RED) compliant and certified by International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC). The expected well-to-wake CO2 equivalent savings is around 18% or 785 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent and will contribute to Vale’s Scope 3 emission reduction.

Using biofuel on the laden voyage is part of the Ecoshipping program, an R&D initiative developed by Vale shipping area to reduce the shipping greenhouse gas emissions in line with the ambitions set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). 

The programme is testing and developing solutions for the use of alternative fuels for shipping, in addition to piloting new energy efficiency technologies. 

Michelle Gonzalez, General Manager of Chartering, Long-Term Contracts and Operations at Vale, said: “We are happy to have great shipping partners committed to support our initiatives and make it happen, genuine collaborations and partnerships will be the key of the success.”

Oldendorff Carriers has previously performed biofuel trials on smaller vessels and for shorter voyages, but this will be Oldendorff's first full voyage consuming biofuel on a Newcastlemax.

Patrick Hutchins, CEO of Oldendorff Carriers, said: “We are delighted that Vale has chosen Oldendorff Carriers for their first biofuel voyage. We look forward to investigating further opportunities together with Vale to advance the shipping and mining industries progress in achieving sustainability goals.”

Photo credit: Vale
Published: 4 December, 2023

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Biofuel

Argus Media: European marine biodiesel prices converge

Market participants said uncertainty was a factor lending measured support to prices in recent weeks, eventually settled by decision by Dutch government to reduce multiplier for bio bunker fuels from 2024.

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Marine biodiesel blend price spreads converged along regional lines in November, as traded values eased in the west Mediterranean but held ground in northwest European ports.

1 December 2023 

The price of B24, a blend comprising 76pc very-low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) and 24pc used cooking oil methyl ester (Ucome), fell to $775.67/t, dob Algeciras-Gibraltar, on 15-30 November from $783.68/t in the two weeks prior.

The price slipped on the back of thinning trading activity as a consequence of limited marine biodiesel bunkering demand in the region, according to market participants. And unbalanced upstream fundamentals on the VLSFO and Ucome markets weighed on market fundamentals for the B24 blend.

Easing prices for marine biodiesel in the Mediterranean were not mirrored in northwest Europe. Argus assessed B30 (Ucome) fob ARA, which combines the European benchmark biodiesel assessment and fob VLSFO barge prices, at an average of $764.32/t in the second half of November — higher by $4.54/t from the average in 1-14 November.

Market participants reported firmer demand in Antwerp for the B30 (Ucome) fob ARA blend, ahead of introduction of the EU emissions trading system (ETS) regulations.

Argus assessed Ucome fob ARA range barges at an average of $1,262.25/t in the second half of November, higher by nearly $40.50/t than the average on 1-14 November as market participants held onto storage with an eye on a contango structure into 2024. As a consequence, the premium commanded by B24 dob Algeciras-Gibraltar to B30 (Ucome) fob ARA narrowed to $11.34/t (or 1.5pc) from $23.90/t (or 3.16pc) in the same timeframe.

The price convergence translated more prominently on the advanced biodiesel marine blend. The B30 advanced fatty acid methyl ester (Fame) 0°C CFPP dob ARA price — which incorporates a significant price deduction for advanced Dutch renewable fuel (HBE-G) tickets, which are available for those domestically blending biofuels produced from feedstocks listed in Annex IX Part A of the EU's Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) — rose to an average of $671.56/t in the second half of the month, from $660.68/t on 

1-14 November.

Market participants said uncertainty was a factor lending measured support to prices in recent weeks, eventually settled by the decision by the Dutch government to reduce the multiplier for biofuels in maritime shipping to 0.4 from 2024. Those in the market have sought to take advantage of the current multiplier of 0.8 before the year ends. B30 advanced Fame dob ARA prices should rise further in 2024 regardless of demand for the blend components, based on a lesser reduction in the HBE-G value that is deducted from the total.

Argus assessed B24 dob Algeciras-Gibraltar at a premium of $104.10/t (or 15.51pc) to the B30 advanced Fame dob ARA on 15-30 November, narrowing from the $123/t (or 18.66pc) premium held in the two weeks prior.

By Hussein Al-Khalisy

Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 4 December, 2023

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