Marubeni conducted a trial voyage on one of its chartered vessels using a marine biofuel blend, from Vlissingen, the Netherlands to Morgan’s Point, Texas, USA. This is the first biofuel supply to an ethylene carrier in the world.
The ethylene carrier GasChem Dollart was supplied with B25 marine biofuel in Vlissingen, the Netherlands on September 21 2022, consisting of approximately 25% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), blended with very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO).
The FAME component of the marine biofuel blend used in this trial led to a reduction in the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the voyage on a lifecycle, well-to-wake approach.
Biofuel blends are particularly helpful as a “drop-in” solution available to existing fleets without the need for modifications to the engine or infrastructure in most applications.
FAME is a biofuel – more commonly known as biodiesel – which is largely produced from recycled used cooking oils and renewable oil sources. FAME has physical properties similar to those of conventional diesel and is biodegradable.
The origination and production of the FAME used in the trial is certified to the ISCC system. This certification requires that sustainability criteria are followed throughout the supply chain, including the tracing of the waste feedstock from point of generation, through processing, transportation and delivery of the final biofuel.
The voyage was aimed at understanding whether technical issues such as combustibility and stability arise when biofuel is used.
