Germany-based shipping firm Oldendorff Carriers announced realization of the first marine biofuel trial involving an ocean-going vessel bunkered in Singapore. The initiative took place in cooperation with global resources company BHP, biofuels pioneer GoodFuels, and with the support of MPA Singapore.
The biofuel trial took place on Kira Oldendorff, a 2020-built 81,290 tdw dry bulk carrier. The eco-Kamsarmax was bunkered with “drop-in” advanced biofuel to be blended with conventional fossil fuels. Minor modifications were carried out to burn the biofuel blend efficiently, and monitoring instruments were installed to capture the trial data as accurately as possible.
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As explained, the key objectives of the biofuel bunkering trial include safety, understanding the behaviour of the fuel (such as emissions), assessing engine and vessel operational performance, as well as exploring the merits and challenges of biofuels as a marine fuel.
The advanced biofuel, supplied by GoodFuels, reduces CO2 emissions by 80-90% well-to-exhaust compared with HFO/VLSFO, and uses sustainable waste and residue streams as feedstock.
This was in line with Oldendorff Carriers’ decarbonization strategy aiming to reduce GHG emissions in shipping operations. In this respect, Oldendorff Carriers Singapore’s Managing Director, Alexander Vajsova-Jones stressed the importance of collaborating with the right partners:
We are thrilled to have been selected to participate in this biofuel trial with our close partners, and pleased that the bunkering happened in Singapore. It’s a small but necessary step in our common goal to reduce our carbon footprint.
Biofuels are seen as an attractive, yet controversial option for shipping decarbonization, with question focusing mainly on whether they will be available in sufficient quantities to meet the needs of different sectors.
