Singapore-based Alpha Biofuels on Friday (9 July) said it has provided bunker fuel to an ocean-going bulk carrier vessels for the first time, using biodiesel made from Used Cooking Oil (UCO) collected locally from food manufacturers, F&B businesses and households.
The global mining conglomerate Anglo American has successfully trialled the use of sustainable biofuel to power a chartered bulk carrier ship during a voyage from Singapore to South Africa.
The trial was conducted onboard the Frontier Jacaranda, a “capesize” bulk carrier – too large to transit the Suez Canal or Panama Canal – owned by Japanese shipping company NYK Line. It was instrumental in verifying the stability of the biofuel in storage and its performance as a fuel.
Data gathered is providing new insights into wider efforts to introduce biofuel to the maritime sector, paving the way to improving its cost-effectiveness and using higher percentage blends in future trials.
The conversion of waste cooking oil by Alpha Biofuels into biodiesel for transportation, aligns with the principles of the circular economy, by providing a fresh and environmentally beneficial use for what would otherwise be disposed of.
The establishment of the procurement and regular use of biofuel, which are expected to reduce Greenhouse Gas (“GHG”) emissions at the Port of Singapore, the world’s largest marine fuel market, will help to shift towards a carbon-free society.
The maritime transport industry, which accounts for at least 2% of the world’s GHG emissions, is facing up to the issue of reducing emissions, as the volume of maritime transportation is expected to continue increasing against the backdrop of growth of the global economy.
In 2018, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a strategy for reducing emissions from ships, setting a target of 50% emissions reduction, compared to the 2008 level by 2050.
Singaporeans Allan Lim, CEO and co-Founder, on left, and Jack Ling, COO and co-Founder) – pictured on the wharf during the fuelling of the bunkering vessel Marlin Tiga on 9 June – believe Alpha Biofuels can scale up considerably at their plant in Tuas Singapore where they currently turn Used Cooking Oil (UCO) into Biodiesel Fuel (BDF).
Photo credit: Alpha Biofuels
Published: 12 July, 2021
Recommends landing bunker fuel samples at the vessels next port of call outside of China between 1 to 9 October in order to avoid transit delays.
The St. Rose site will receive material produced from discarded mined materials, and will transform it into a cleaner blending component for bunker fuel.
In spite of the significant amount of added weight, including Hull Vane®, the bulbous bow construction and ballast, results showed the fuel consumption was reduced by 24%.
With the forthcoming EU carbon price for shipping, a legal analysis from Opportunity Green, commissioned by T&E, assesses who should take responsibility.
VLSFO tighter in Singapore; HSFO380 tighter in Fujairah; ARA LSMGO still tight; Gibraltar Strait suppliers almost clear backlogs; all grades tighter across major US ports.
Vessels will be time chartered out to the firm’s long-standing customers TOTAL Energies and Equinor and are owned by a joint venture of Hafnia and CSSC Shipping.
Integr8 Fuel injunction varied by Singapore Court to allow former employees to start work at Hartree Group in December 2022 following failure to produce evidence on biofuels development plans.
Variability of sources can affect the stability and performance of biofuel bunkers produced from these feedstocks, in turn leading to difficulties in meeting regulations and industry standards, shares Bryan Quek.
Top three positive movers in 2022 were Bunker House Petroleum Pte Ltd (+7), Eastpoint International Marketing Pte Ltd (+5), and Eng Hua Company (Pte) Ltd (+6); newcomer Sinopec Fuel Oil (Singapore) gets 19th spot.
Livestock carrier also involved in earlier bunker claim with Glander International Bunkering due to remaining unpaid fuel bill of approximately USD 116,000, according to court documents obtained by Manifold Times.
A blend of standard MGO and biodiesel, MGO B20 is distributed at the company’s floating kiosk CNC 5 which is located off the buoy of West Coast Pier; PS Energy has been stamped with globally recognised ISCC.
Desmond Chong, Managing Director of Kenoil Group, informs on the company’s contribution towards the methanol bunkering value chain in a project to establish Asia’s green e-methanol plant in Singapore.
