Successful bio-VLSFO trial completed in Singapore
The 2009-built capesize bulk carrier, Friendship, owned by Seanergy Maritime Holdings of Greece, has completed a round trip between Singapore and Saldanha Bay, South Africa, using B10 biofuel bunker fuel supplied by TotalEnergies. The 176,952dwt vessel, chartered to NYK Line, shipped a cargo of iron ore for Anglo American on its return voyage. Its fuel comprised very low sulphur fuel oil blended with 10% second-generation, waste-based and approved used cooking oil methyl ester - UCOME. This biofuel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 80% on a well-to-wake basis, compared with heavy fuel oil.
The trial, in which the blended fuel reduced greenhouse gas emissions by about 10%, proved that the biofuel can be used safely in relevant marine applications without any modifications, the project partners said.
The biofuel delivery also demonstrated the successful setting up by TotalEnergies Marine Fuels of a local supply chain. This included land storage, blending, and the eventual bunkering of the bulk carrier.
Other parties which supported the project included the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, bunker barging company V-Bunkers, and tank storage company, Vopak Terminals Singapore.
