Alternative Fuels

Petrobras begins testing performance of B24 bio bunker fuel blend

Firm is testing the biofuel on board a vessel chartered by Transpetro, located at the Rio Grande Terminal; vessel has been filled with around 573,000 litres of biofuel bunkers.

Published

1 year ago

July 3, 2023

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Brazilian state-controlled oil and gas producer Petrobras on Wednesday (28 June) said it has begun testing the performance of a B24 bio bunker fuel blend.

It is being used to fuel a ship, located at the Rio Grande (RS) Terminal and chartered by Transpetro. The vessel has been filled with around 573,000 litres of fuel.

Over the next few months, the ship’s data will be monitored, including consumption, power produced and distance travelled, along with how the fuel performs in relation to the filters and purification systems.

The estimated percentage reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would be around 17% by volume, compared to standard mineral bunker fuel, based on a preliminary analysis of the complete lifecycle of the product.

“It is the second test by the company on this type. However, this time, the percentage of biodiesel is higher than in the first test, when the percentage was 10% by volume. The renewable portion of the fuel was produced from 30% animal fat (tallow), by volume, plus 70% from soybean oil,” the firm said in a statement on its website.

According to Claudio Schlosser, Petrobras' Director of Logistics, Commercialisation and Markets, the progress with the testing of bunker fuel with renewable content shows how the company is taking a clear position.

“We are currently investing in new products that will bring environmental benefits for society. The results from the first test, where we mixed bunker fuel with 10% renewables, indicated that there was scope to increase the percentage. Now that 24% of the fuel is biodiesel, we can show that the energy transition is definitely on Petrobras’s agenda," Schlosser said.

Maurício Tolmasquim, the Director of Energy Transition and Sustainability, added: “This test is increasing the number of options we can offer our customers that will allow them to achieve decarbonisation and diversify our product portfolio. The marine fuel industry is looking for quick wins that we can provide.”

For Carlos Travassos, Petrobras' Director of Engineering, Technology and Innovation, advanced biofuels stand out as one of the best options to replace fossil fuels in the maritime transport industry, especially long haul, since the issues with electrification in this area are more significant.

“In the coming decades, these biofuels could provide an important competitive advantage for Brazil, not just because we have the land and agricultural production to supply them, but also due to Petrobras' proven ability, through its Research Center, to develop technology that makes the most of the qualities of the region and utilises existing infrastructure,” he said.

According to Sérgio Bacci, the president of Transpetro, the company is supportive of Petrobras in its development of a more sustainable generation of products.

"Transpetro is working with Petrobras to test the bunker fuel with renewable content. We are working to make these unprecedented operations possible in Brazil because we are committed to working with our parent company to establish the energy transition for our future. Transpetro excels in innovation and is the only oil and derivatives logistics company in all of Latin America that is capable of providing sustainable solutions like this.”

The formulation is based on a mixture of mineral bunker fuel (as specified under ANP resolution) and biodiesel produced by Petrobras Biocombustível (PBio) at the Montes Claros Plant (MG).

Rodrigo Pimentel Leão, the president of Pbio, said: “The current test is testimony to the ability of our different areas to work together. Pbio has shown that it is committed to developing products with less carbon, by producing the biodiesel for the vessel.”

The first test carried out by Petrobras lasted 40 days, between December 2022 and February 2023. During this time, the vessel, Darcy Ribeiro, owned by Transpetro, used around 303,000 litres of a mixture of bunker fuel and 10% biodiesel, by volume. The results did not indicate any abnormalities in the running of the engine, nor in the fuel treatment systems (centrifuges and filters).

The operational parameters, the fuel quality analysis and the stability of the mixture indicated that the product was viable and there was scope for further testing of greater percentages of renewables with the bunker fuel.

Photo credit: Shaah Shahidh on Unsplash
Published: 3 July, 2023

LNG Bunkering

Singapore: MPA launches EOI to expand LNG bunkering services amid growing demand

MPA is seeking proposals to explore scalable solutions for sea-based LNG reloading to complement existing onshore LNG bunkering storage and jetty capacities and e/bio-methane supply as a marine fuel.

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2024

Admin

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has launched an Expression of Interest (EOI) to explore scalable solutions for sea-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) reloading to complement the existing onshore LNG bunkering storage and jetty capacities and the supply of e/bio-methane as marine fuel in the Port of Singapore.

MPA said LNG bunkering in Singapore has grown from 16,000 tonnes delivered in 2022 to over 385,000 tonnes delivered from January to October 2024.

According to the EOI, demand for LNG bunkering is expected to grow further with a growing global fleet of LNG dual-fuelled vessels and competitive LNG bunker prices.

“The EOI seeks to gather proposals on three areas: to scale up sea-based reloading operations, including ship-to-bunker barge LNG operations; to facilitate the supply of LNG alternatives such as liquefied bio-methane; and to develop floating platform concepts to enhance bunkering safety and efficiency,” MPA added.

“The EOI proposals should also include mitigation measures to address the issue of methane slip on a well-to-wake basis.”

Participants in the EOI do not need to be an existing LNG bunkering licensee. Participants are required to propose models for operationalising sea-based LNG reloading starting from 2025. Participants selected will be required to conduct trials in Singapore to validate the proposed solution’s operational feasibility and safety.

“Insights gained from the EOI and trials will inform MPA’s review of the LNG licensing framework, including enhancements to supply to better serve the industry’s bunkering needs,” it said.

Note: Interested parties can visit the MPA website for details and submission guidelines. Proposals must be submitted by 28 February 2025, 1pm (Singapore time).

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 13 December, 2024

LNG Bunkering

Wärtsilä wins LNG systems order for Vitol bunkering newbuild vessel

Firm will supply cargo Handling and Fuel Gas Supply systems for a new 12,500 m3 LNG bunkering vessel currently being built at Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering shipyard in China.

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2024

Admin

Wärtsilä wins LNG systems order for Vitol bunkering newbuild vessel

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, part of technology group Wärtsilä, on Friday (13 December) said it has won a contract to supply Cargo Handling and Fuel Gas Supply systems for a new 12,500 m3 LNG bunkering vessel.

The vessel is being built at the Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering shipyard in China, for global energy company Vitol.

“Wärtsilä’s ability to engineer, design and deliver a complete system, including the Boil-Off Gas (BOG) management, integrated fuel supply, custody transfer and bunkering transfer systems, was central to the contract award,” Wärtsilä said, adding the order was booked by the company in Q4, 2024.

Richie Zhu, Sales Manager, Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, China, said: “LNG is today an important marine fuel and is rapidly becoming the preferred choice for owners and operators seeking more sustainable fuel options. The market for LNG bunkering vessels is increasing in line with this trend, and we have established a leading position in supplying modern and reliable systems that optimise overall cargo handling efficiency for such vessels.”

Manifold Times previously reported Vitol securing three LNG Bunkering Vessels (LNGBV) through its shipping company, Vitol International Shipping Pte Ltd (VIS).

The vessels were secured via a seven to ten year time charter agreement with Avenir LNG Limited (Avenir) and an order for two vessels at the CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co. Ltd shipyard in Nantong, China.

The time charter agreement with Avenir is for one newbuild 20,000 m3 LNGBV. The time charter will commence at delivery from the shipyard in China in Q4 2026 and will serve a period of seven years with options to extend up to ten years in total.

Vitol also ordered one 12,500 m3 and one 20,000 m3 LNGBV at the CIMC SOE shipyard in China. The vessels will be delivered in Q4 2026 and Q3 2027 respectively.

Photo credit: Wärtsilä
Published: 13 December, 2024

Newbuilding

UECC deploys LNG dual-fuel newbuild “Blue Aspire” on key European route

Vessel is set to boost vessel capacity on its key European North-South trading network from mid-December this year after recent delivery from CIMC Raffles Offshore Engineering.

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2024

Admin

UECC deploys LNG dual-fuel newbuild “Blue Aspire” on key European route

United European Car Carriers (UECC) on Wednesday (11 December) said it has further expanded its fleet of eco-friendly car carriers with the addition of the dual-fuel LNG newbuild Blue Aspire.

The vessel is set to boost vessel capacity on its key European North-South trading network from mid-December this year after recent delivery from a Chinese shipyard.

The 200-metre long Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC), delivered from CIMC Raffles Offshore Engineering, has capacity for nearly 7000 vehicles on 12 cargo decks.

UECC will operate the vessel together with another five vessels on a route between the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, traversing the Turkish ports of Yenikoy and Autoport, the German port of Cuxhaven, and Zeebrugge, Belgium every 4.5 days.

“Deployment of the Blue Aspire will boost tremendously capacity and sailing frequency on this busy trade route, currently serviced by five vessels, while further enhancing the sustainability of the UECC fleet,” said the company’s COO Per Christian Mørk.

The latest fleet addition will increase to six the number of UECC-operated vessels plying the North-South network, taking in a total of 10 ports on two routes, after the recent deployment of the renamed Auto Way that was acquired by UECC’s joint owner Wallenius Lines from Höegh Autoliners earlier this year.

It will also boost the size of UECC’s owned and chartered fleet to 15 PCTCs, including five dual and multi-fuel LNG vessels - three with battery hybrid capability - delivered in the past decade, with another two multi-fuel LNG newbuilds currently on order that are set for delivery in 2028 and options for two similar units.

“We are expanding our fleet with greater capacity and cargo-carrying flexibility to provide a more efficient service for clients in response to increasing demand as we see longer-term growth potential in this market,” Mørk explained.

Mørk said sustainability is now a key priority in procurement of maritime transport services to meet the environmental goals of vehicle manufacturers amid new green regulations - including FuelEU Maritime and the EU ETS - that provide a commercial incentive to reduce the cost of GHG emissions.

“UECC is catering to this market requirement with an eco-friendly fleet geared to minimizing the environmental footprint of vessel operations with progressive reductions in carbon intensity, in line with regulation, through adoption of energy-efficient technologies and alternative fuels,” he says.

Mørk noted that, while LNG can reduce emissions by around 25% compared with conventional fossil fuels, there is potential to greatly enhance environmental performance on LNG-fuelled vessels like Blue Aspire by switching to liquefied biomethane (LBM) that offers net-zero potential.

UECC is now increasing application of the latter fuel on its dual-fuel LNG PCTCs after recently securing an LBM supply agreement with Titan Clean Fuels that is forecast to cut its overall fleet emissions by 75,000 tons in 2025.

“The Blue Aspire therefore represents a valuable addition to the UECC fleet that underpins our market commitment to sustainability, while contributing to decarbonization of shipping,” Mørk concludes.

Photo credit: United European Car Carriers
Published: 13 December, 2024