As we are approaching the end of another exciting year for shipping, without a doubt the focus of everyone ahead of 2020 will be on IMO sulphur cap. This issue, along with decarbonization in general, has emerged as a main priority for the sector, with companies trying to find ways to cut their emissions. In this article, we take a look back at 2019, and we identify the key environmental moments that left their mark.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has recently issued its Renewables 2019 report with the aim to analyse and forecast renewable energy and technologies from 2019 to 2024; providing global trends and developments for renewable energy in the electricity, heat and transport sectors.
IKEA Transport & Logistics Services, CMA CGM, and the GoodShipping Program announced the successful completion of their 2019 biofuel test programme on CMA CGM vessels, following the positive trials of HFO-equivalent Bio-Fuel Oil during CMA CGM Alexander Vob Humboldt’s North Europe-Asia trip, which took place in September and October 2019.
BTG will establish a new high-tech technology company that can convert crude pyrolysis oil into diesel fuel suitable for the shipping sector. It will be the first refinery in the world for an advanced marine biofuel based on pyrolysis oil.
A leading shipbroker remarked to a recent conference panel session that for more shipowners to commit to LNG as fuel required much more support from the energy majors whose cargoes they might carry. In fact, Mr Christopher D. Chatterton, Chief Operating Officer of the Methanol Institute states that the majors have already come out in support of LNG as fuel.
In order to become completely emission free, Hurtigruten has started testing Biodiesel on board the ship MS Polarlys. This fuel can potentially reduce emissions up to 95% in comparison to traditional fuels, the company notes.
Boskalis and biofuels supplier GoodFuels will advance the ‘Boskalis on Bio’ program for testing sustainable bio-fuel oil. After successful tests with ‘drop-in’ blends of light biofuel and marine gas oil, Boskalis’ Willem van Oranje will be the first dredging vessel in the world to operate on 100% biofuel oil.
DNV GL and Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), aiming to cooperate on the development of low and zero carbon ship technology. The project will include additional study on LNG as a ship fuel, as well as an assessment on its potential as a transitional step to zero-carbon options.
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.
Heavy lift shipping and offshore transportation and installation contractor Jumbo, and marine biofuel company GoodFuels, announced a joint initiative to test marine Bio-Fuel Oil on an offshore decommissioning project. The partnership paves the way for a fossil fuel to renewable energy transition in the offshore support sector.
