Stena Bulk Completes Biofuel Trial
Stena Bulk said it completed a test run of biofuel aboard its MR tanker Stena Immortal, as shipping companies seek fuel alternatives to help lower their carbon footprint and comply with more stringent environemental regulations.
The 49,646 dwt tanker received its first delivery of Bio Fuel Oil made from used cooking oil a call at the Port of Rotterdam. The fuel, which GoodFuels launched in 2018, is said to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 83% and substantially reduces SOX emissions.
As Stena Immortal ran in typical commercial operation, BFO was tested in tanks, storage and as it was burned in the engines, proving to be a technically compliant alternative to the fossil default for oceangoing tanker vessels.
According to Stena Bulk, the trial's success underlines sustainable marine biofuel’s position within the marine fuel mix, and helps owners and operators to future-proof against current and impending regulations. As the trial was conducted with 100% biofuel, it also shows that low-carbon shipping doesn’t have to be decades away but viable also on the shorter term if industry leaders work together to push the development, it said.
Because it substantially reduces CO2 and SOX emissions, GoodFuels’ Bio Fuel Oil ensures compliance with the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) 2020 Sulphur Cap, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction requirements and upcoming regulations to reduce carbon intensity from shipping.
GoodFuels Bio Fuel Oil is sustainably sourced and completely derived from forest residues and waste oil products. The fuel is also verified by an independent sustainability board of leading academics and NGOs in the transport sectors.
Erik Hånell, President and CEO Stena Bulk, said, “We like to show the industry that we can start reducing the carbon footprint of shipping here and now while maintaining highest quality technical and commercial operations. The Stena Immortal performed very well running on the biofuel while continuing to deliver according to our customers’ needs without any disruption.
“The industry needs pioneers willing to collaborate, share knowledge and push the development towards more sustainable shipping. We’re happy to collaborate with GoodFuels in this test to take on that mission and encourage others to join us. We are of course open and have a willingness to drive and take part of this development together with stakeholders in this industry.”
Dirk Kronemeijer, CEO, GoodFuels Marine, said, “For the past five years, we have focused on realizing the widescale use of sustainable marine biofuel, which has enabled us to continue to develop biofuels as a true solution to the market’s problems. Today’s announcement marks yet another a crucial move towards offering the shipping industry a credible near-zero carbon alternative to HFO and VLSFO.”
Following the Stena Immortal trial, Stena Bulk and GoodFuels Marine will continue working together to gain more experience and scale the usage of Bio Fuel Oil as an alternative to conventional fossil-based fuel.
Several other shipping companies, including Norden, CMA CGM, Jan De Nul, Boskalis, Jumbo and UECC, have also experimented with biofuels.
