Van Oord is collaborating with Shell to trial the use of biofuel on its fleet, in light of the approaching IMO 2020 sulphur cap. The partners will conduct the pilot testing on the trailing suction hopper dredger HAM 316, which will voyage from Rotterdam to Cuxhaven.
Specifically, the biofuel, which has been certified by ISCC, is in compliance with the current ECA regulations. Van Oord stated that the ‘second-generation‘ biofuel is the outcome of waste products, as cooking oil.
The trial will acknowledge the ability of the fuel to be used in practice in existing vessels. The partners will measure the vessel’s local emissions, and after the testing phase they will inspect the vessel’s engine.
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According to the statement, the biofuel reduces the CO2 emissions by more than 40%, in comparison to conventional marine fuel.
The industry’s 2050 goal aspires that the industry will emit 50% less CO2 than in 2008.
Van Oord inked the Green Deal, which requires from the participants to achieve a 70% reduction by 2050, in comparison to 2008 emissions. Both parties have signed an agreement to carry out a large-scale biofuel pilot. Following the pilot, the possibility of using biofuels on other vessels will also be examined.
Pepijn van den Heuvel, project leader at Shell, stated
Biofuels are one of the solutions for shipping that can be implemented in the short and medium term.Biofuels can be blended with conventional fuels without the need for major technical modifications to the engines.