Alternative Fuels

Titan to supply biomethane bunker fuel to UECC multi-fuel ships with new deal

UECC multi-fuel will sail on biomethane supplied by Titan for rest of 2024 and most of 2025, expanding upon UECC and Titan’s established commitment to using biomethane.

Published

6 months ago

December 3, 2024

Admin

Titan and UECC enter biomethane bunker fuel supply agreement

Titan Clean Fuels (Titan) on Monday (2 December) said it has signed a new agreement with United European Car Carriers (UECC) that will see the vast majority of Liquified Gas supplied by Titan to UECC’s multi-fuel ships to have them run on biomethane (LBM/bio-LNG) for the remainder of 2024 and then most of 2025.

This deal expands upon UECC and Titan’s established commitment to using LBM. Since 1 July, over 95% of the fuel delivered to UECC’s pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) by Titan has been LBM; resulting in avoiding more than 30,000 tonnes of green houses gasses emitted.

According to Titan’s analysis, the quantity of LBM in 2025, which Titan and UECC are realistically targeting, will avoid more than 75,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases being emitted.

That reduction is equivalent to the annual emissions of around 10,000 EU citizens or 540 million kilometers driven in an average car. Using LBM over oil-based fuels also virtually eliminates harmful local emissions Black Soot and other Particular Matters (PM), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Sulphur Oxides (SOx).

Daniel Gent, Energy & Sustainability Manager at UECC, commented: “Through our CO2 registry, this agreement offers our customers the opportunity to significantly reduce their scope three emissions, and we appreciate those that have already jumped at the offer. Toyota Motor Europe, Ford of Europe and another major European vehicle manufacturer quickly signed up to Green Gas Month in July 2024, and following its success every month will now essentially be Green Gas Month!

“The engagement in Sail for Change from our customers, alongside Titan’s in-depth expertise in clean fuel supply and bunkering, have allowed us to almost entirely transition from LNG to LBM, and to swiftly scale up our use of biomethane. With this expansion, we look forward to hearing from more customers who want to reduce their scope three emissions and use sustainable shipping services today.”

Caspar Gooren, Commercial Director Renewable Fuels, said: “As frontrunners with a strong and clear renewable fuels strategy, UECC has been pivotal in propelling the uptake of LBM, and we are excited to be supporting them as they sail towards a sustainable future. This agreement highlights that, just like LNG before it, LBM is quickly becoming a standardised product and gaining popularity as it is recognized as future fuel.

“The LBM delivery scale and consistency we’re able to achieve is, in part, thanks to robust mass balancing processes and related liquefaction LNG terminal infrastructure in the region. It’s now time for the whole of Europe and the world to follow suit. Looking ahead, both Titan and UECC are aligned on the need to geographically expand biomethane supply and diversify waste feedstocks to ensure certified LBM is accessible to those in shipping that want and need it.”

The announcement follows news that UECC has invested in two new multi-fuel car carriers to be delivered in 2028, with the option to add two more.

Photo credit: Titan and United European Car Carriers
Published: 3 December, 2024

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Biofuel

NYK to launch Japan’s first antioxidant for biodiesel bunker fuel in August

When added to biofuel, BioxiGuard slows progression of oxidative degradation and helps deter issues such as metal corrosion, strainer blockage, and cleaning-system fouling often triggered by oxidised fuel.

Published

17 hours ago

May 22, 2025

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Japan’s first antioxidant by NYK for biodiesel bunker fuel set to release in August

Nippon Yuka Kogyo (Nippon Yuka), an NYK Group company specialising in chemical R&D as well as the manufacture and sale of chemical products, on Wednesday (21 May) announced the upcoming release of BioxiGuard, the Japan’s first antioxidant specially developed for marine biodiesel, from 10 August.

NYK said compared with conventional petroleum-based fuels, biofuel contains a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, making it more susceptible to oxidative degradation. Once oxidised, the biofuel can produce acidic substances and sludge, adversely affecting vessel fuel efficiency by reducing the fuel’s calorific value.

Developed by Nippon Yuka based on property analyses of the biofuel used in NYK-operated vessels, BioxiGuard is specifically formulated to enhance the oxidation stability of biodiesel. When added to biofuel, BioxiGuard slows the progression of oxidative degradation and helps deter issues such as metal corrosion, strainer blockage, and cleaning-system fouling often triggered by oxidised fuel.

According to laboratory tests conducted by Nippon Yuka researchers, the addition of BioxiGuard at a concentration of 1 part per 500 resulted in an approximate 50% reduction in the rate of biofuel degradation compared to untreated biofuel.

This significant improvement underscores the potential for vessel operators to not only extend the useful life of biofuel on board but also maintain more stable and cost-effective vessel operations.

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 22 May, 2025

Newbuilding

Höegh Autoliners latest LNG dual-fuel PCTC en route to Shanghai for bunkering

The 9,100 CEU “Höegh Sunrise”, currently sailing the seas, is on its way to Shanghai for bunkering before sailing to Japan and then towards Europe.

Published

17 hours ago

May 22, 2025

Admin

Höegh Autoliners latest LNG dual-fuel PCTC en route to Shanghai for bunkering

Höegh Autoliners on Tuesday (20 May) said its latest liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel pure car and truck carrier has departed China Merchants Heavy Industry’s yard, ready to commence its commercial operations.

The 9,100 CEU Höegh Sunrise, currently sailing the seas, is on its way to Shanghai for bunkering before sailing to Japan and then towards Europe.

The PCTC is the fifth in a series of 12 Aurora Class vessels built by the shipyard in China. The first eight Auroras are or will be equipped with engines primed to run on LNG and low-sulphur oil.

These vessels can be converted to run on ammonia later. By 2027, Höegh Autoliners said the four last vessels of the series will be able to run net zero on ammonia directly from the yard when delivered.

Manifold Times previously reported the naming ceremony of Höegh Autoliner’s fourth Aurora Class newbuild, Höegh Sunlight, at Taicang Haitong Auto Terminal.

Photo credit: Höegh Autoliners
Published: 22 May, 2025

Alternative Fuels

UECC: Liquefied biomethane bunker fuel to enable compliance surplus under FuelEU

Company says bunkering liquefied biomethane will give it a significant compliance surplus under FuelEU that can be monetised through the regulation’s pooling mechanism.

Published

17 hours ago

May 22, 2025

Admin

UECC: Liquefied biomethane bunker fuel to enable compliance surplus under FuelEU

United European Car Carriers (UECC) on Monday (19 May) said bunkering liquefied biomethane (LBM), also known as bio-LNG, will give it a significant compliance surplus under FuelEU that can be monetised through the regulation’s pooling mechanism.

UECC’s Senior Manager of Business Planning & Sustainability, Masanori Nagashima, said bio-LNG is now seen by the company as the key fuel to achieve its target of a 45% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030 versus a 2014 baseline and net zero by 2040 – ahead of the 2050 deadline set by both the IMO and EU.

The marine fuel is being bunkered on UECC’s dual and multi-fuel LNG PCTCs – three of which have battery hybrid capability – under Sail for Change that was launched by UECC last year and currently has participation by automotive giants including Toyota, Ford and JLR.

The company also has on order two multi-fuel LNG battery hybrid newbuild PCTCs due for delivery in 2028 that could be enlisted into the programme.

The overall carbon intensity of the UECC fleet, using the same gCO2e/MJ (grams of CO2 equivalent per megajoule) metric as FuelEU, is calculated at 68 gCO2e/MJ to achieve an interim target of a 25% carbon intensity reduction in 2025, though the company is expected to achieve 57 gCO2e/MJ this year based on its supply plan, according to Nagashima.

This is significantly below the current FuelEU threshold of 89.3 gCO2e/MJ – a 2% reduction from the baseline of 91.16 gCO2e/MJ – and still lower than the threshold of 77.9 gCO2e/MJ from 2035 that is a 14.5% reduction versus the baseline figure.

“The low carbon intensity of our fleet means all of our vessels are expected to gain a C rating or above with the IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII)” Nagashima explained.

“It also gives us a significant compliance surplus under FuelEU that can be monetised through the regulation’s pooling mechanism, allowing a great commercial opportunity to offset regulatory costs for customers and eliminate FuelEU surcharges.”

“UECC will continue to accelerate its progress in improving decarbonisation of its fleet by further optimising our fuel mix strategy going forward to incorporate more high-impact fuels as these become viable.”

Photo credit: Titan Clean Fuels
Published: 22 May, 2025