Viking Line has started to offer passengers on its Turku-Åland-Stockholm route the option of purchasing renewable biofuel in proportion to the amount of fuel used for their journey and thus reduce the emissions from their travel by up to 90%
Starting June 21, the passengers on the Turku-Åland-Stockholm route can purchase biogas in proportion to the amount of fuel used for their journey. On a cruise between Turku and Stockholm, the additional price is less than 5 euros.
At that price, passengers reduce their carbon footprint by up to 90% compared to a trip where liquefied natural gas (LNG) is used. The amount of liquefied biogas (LBG) purchased is based on average fuel use per passenger.
Many of our passengers have asked for such an option, and we are really pleased that we can now engage them even more in our work for the environment and the Baltic Sea
… said Dani Lindberg, Sustainability Manager at Viking Line.
Normally, the vessels run on liquefied natural gas, which is also a low-emission energy source compared to oil-based fuels. According to Viking Lines, Nitrogen oxide emissions from LNG are 85% lower than when using oil-based fuels, which helps counter eutrophication (nutrient enrichment) and acidification of the Baltic Sea.
In biogas production, waste streams in society – such as food and agricultural waste – are used as raw materials, which promotes a circular economy. The method used to produce the gas affects the ultimate amount of emissions.
Carbon-neutral maritime transport still lies in the future, but it is no longer a utopian dream. Our goal at Viking Line is to be among the first when the time comes
… said Jan Hanses, President and CEO of Viking Line.
Viking Line is currently taking part in projects that explore the possibilities of creating a carbon-neutral green corridor for the Baltic Sea. Biogas has already been tested as a fuel on Viking Grace.
To remind, DNV recently published a study on biofuels, DNV claiming that the flexibility of biofuels can enable the shipping industry to accelerate its journey towards decarbonization but there are current limitations in production capacity.