Alternative Fuels

OOCL completes trial voyage with Chevron biofuel bunker onboard “OOCL YOKOHAMA”

Container vessel was bunkered with 1999.3 mt of B22 marine biofuel provided by Chevron from Port of Singapore before embarking in a 41-day trial voyage.

Published

2 years ago

September 29, 2022

Admin

International container transportation and logistics company Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd. (OOCL) on Wednesday (28 September) announced the successful completion of the trial use of biofuel bunker supplied by global energy company Chevron Singapore Pte. Ltd. on containership MV OOCL YOKOHAMA. This is the first time that OOCL has trialled the use of biofuel in its fleet.

On 24 June 2022, the MV OOCL YOKOHAMA, a 4578-TEU container vessel, was bunkered with 1999.3 metric tonnes (mt) of B22 marine biofuel provided by Chevron from the Port of Singapore. The 41-day trial voyage commenced on 26 June and ended on 5 August.

Deployed in OOCL’s AAA1 service in the Southeast Asia – Australia network, the vessel started its round trip at Singapore, went southward to call at a number of Australian ports, and then returned to Singapore.

The biofuel supplied by Chevron Singapore was blended with ISCC certified Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester as a 22% component in the VLSFO. This biofuel can be used on vessels without changing engine specifications and is expected to decrease approximately 15% to 20% of exhausted CO2 based on lifecycle analysis.

Mr. Kenny Ye, Chief Operating Officer at OOCL, said: “We are very pleased with the positive results of the trial. Biofuels are considered to be one of the most credible options to enable the shipping industry both to meet future regulatory requirements, and to advance further with the transition towards decarbonization.”

“The success of this trial provides OOCL with certainty as to the feasibility of using sustainable biofuels on its ships, which gives us increased clarity over the next steps in our decarbonization journey. We would like to thank our long-term partner Chevron, a leading provider of reliable and ever cleaner energy, for achieving this new milestone with us. OOCL will continue to work closely with our partners and all stakeholders to strive for further advancement in our sustainability roadmap to create a greener future.”

“As Chevron looks to grow our marine biofuels business in the region, we are pleased with the success of the biofuel trial with OOCL,” said Mr. Frankie Lee, vice president of Chevron Product Supply and Trading, Asia Pacific.

“Chevron is committed to partnering with key shipowner customers to provide lower carbon solutions including biofuels. As partners with the Global Center for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD), we will play an active role in developing the biofuels landscape in Singapore.”

Photo credit: Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd.
Published: 29 September, 2022

Alternative Fuels

Argus Green Marine Fuels Asia eBook released ahead of February bunker conference

eBook features interviews with Microsoft, JERA, IBIA, Anglo American, Sumitomo Corporation, Hafnia, BHP, Global Maritime Forum, DS NORDEN, ADNOC Group, and Standard Chartered Bank.

Published

2 days ago

January 17, 2025

Admin

Argus Media organises Green Marine Fuels Asia Conference in Singapore

Independent global energy and commodity market intelligence provider Argus Media recently published an eBook as part of a prelude leading towards the Argus Green Marine Fuels Asia Conference on 18 to 19 February in Singapore.

The Pre-conference content: Argus marine fuels Asia eBook features exclusive industry interviews with Microsoft, JERA, IBIA, Anglo American, Sumitomo Corporation, Hafnia, BHP, Global Maritime Forum, DS NORDEN, ADNOC Group, and Standard Chartered Bank.

It offers a peek into their thoughts on infrastructure readiness, the marine fuels shipowners are gravitating towards, LNG decarbonisation pathways, collaboration across the marine fuels value chain, and more.

The eBook is available for download through the image below:

The Argus Green Marine Fuels Asia Conference will be held at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, 6 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039594 on 18 to 19 February in Singapore.

Key speakers for the event include Kenneth Lim, Assistant Chief Executive (Industry & Transformation), Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA); Torben Nørgaard, Chief Technology Officer - Energy & Fuels, Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center; Jerid Soo, Assistant General Manager (Global Sustainability and ESG), Pacific International Lines; Kazuki Yamaguchi, General Manager and Head, Maritime Energy Solution, Energy Transformation Business Group, Sumitomo Corporation; and Mahua Chakravarty, Editor, Marine Fuels (Asia), Argus.

Photo credit: Argus Media
Published: 17 January, 2024

Biofuel

Burando Energies delivers B30 bio bunker fuel to tug “MV Bylgia” in Rotterdam

Firm said it successfully delivered ISCC-certified B30 biofuel blend, derived from renewable feedstocks, to Heerema’s Anchor Handling Tug “MV Bylgia” at Port of Rotterdam.

Published

2 days ago

January 17, 2025

Admin

Burando Energies delivers B30 bio bunker fuel to tug “MV Bylgia” in Rotterdam

Burando Energies on Thursday (16 January) announced it successfully delivered ISCC-certified biofuel to Heerema’s Anchor Handling Tug MV Bylgia at the Port of Rotterdam.

The delivered B30 biofuel blend, derived from renewable feedstocks, will help reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 25% (well-to-wake)—an impactful move in Heerema’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.

“This delivery not only reflects our commitment to offering sustainable energy solutions but also strengthens our partnership with Heerema in their green ambitions,” said Duncan Huisman, Sustainable Bunker Trader at Burando Energies.

“We are proud to contribute to initiatives that prioritise the well-being of our planet and future generations.”

Burando Energies said it will continue to focus on innovation and sustainability, striving to provide energy solutions that drive both environmental progress and business success.

Photo credit: Burando Energies
Published: 17 January, 2025

Biofuel

DNV whitepaper: Limited supply could hamper future uptake of bio bunker fuel

Long-term future of the maritime biofuel market hinges on the availability of sustainable biomass at an affordable level, as well as competition with other sectors, says Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO Maritime.

Published

2 days ago

January 17, 2025

Admin

Key biofuels like FAME and HVO have great potential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and supporting compliance with maritime regulations, but their benefits to the industry could be constrained by limited supply in the future, according to DNV’s latest white paper Biofuels in Shipping, published on Thursday (16 January).

Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO Maritime at DNV, said: “Biofuels present a promising decarbonization option for shipowners, and it's encouraging to see steady growth in the number of bunkering ports offering biofuels in recent years.”

“However, the long-term future of the maritime biofuel market hinges on the availability of sustainable biomass at an affordable level, as well as competition with other sectors.”

“Shipowners should, therefore, aim to explore energy efficiency measures and alternative fuels as part of their wider decarbonization strategies, while utilizing biofuels where they are available and affordable.”

In 2023, the maritime sector consumed just 0.7 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) of liquid biofuels, representing a mere 0.6% of global liquid biofuel supply and 0.3% of shipping’s total energy use, highlighting the limited uptake of biofuels in shipping today compared to other sectors.

Despite this, biofuel holds significant potential for reducing GHG emissions and achieving compliance with regulatory frameworks, such as CII, EU ETS, and FuelEU Maritime. To realise these benefits, the biofuels used must meet stringent sustainability and GHG savings requirements, verified through a Proof of Sustainability (PoS) or similar document.

Drawing on in-depth interviews and written surveys of eight biofuel suppliers and 12 shipping companies, the paper identified more than 60 locations which have already been proven to have carried out biofuel bunkering operations since 2015. The report estimates that the ports of Singapore and Rotterdam accounted for about half of all biofuels supply to shipping in 2023.

The majority of biofuel consumption in shipping occurs through fuel blends, combining biofuels like FAME and HVO, the most established biofuels for maritime use, with conventional oil-based fuels.

The DNV white paper contains an overview of the main technical and operational considerations for use of biofuel as a ‘drop-in’ fuel. This includes key recommendations to shipowners such as verifying fuel quality, compatibility with onboard systems, and monitoring performance.

Øyvind Sekkesæter, Consultant in Maritime Environmental Technology at DNV and Lead Author of Biofuels in Shipping, said: “The technical compatibility of key marine biofuels like FAME and HVO varies from ship to ship, making it essential to assess each case individually.”

“Doing so will ensure that the fuel specification and quality are compatible with their intended application, minimizing the risk of damage to equipment and loss of power onboard the vessel.”

Note: The full DNV report titled ‘Biofuels in Shipping’ can be found here.

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 17 January, 2025