GoodFuels supplies two biofuel blends to cruise ship in Rotterdam

Biofuel blends of B30 and B100 were supplied by Dutch biofuel supplier GoodFuels to a cruise ship operated by US-based Holland America Line in Rotterdam.

PHOTO: GoodFuels supplies biofuel by barge to Holland America Line’s Volendam. GoodFuels

The 20-day trial runs of these biofuel blends were conducted in partnership with GoodFuels and Finnish marine technology company Wärtsilä.

During the first five days of the trial, the cruise ship Volendam consumed a B30 blend of 30% biofuel blended with 70% MGO. For the remaining 15 days it ran on B100, or 100% biofuel. The biofuel derived from waste or residue feedstocks.

GoodFuels claims that during the second part of the trial, its B100 biofuel was able to reduce the ship's carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 78% on a lifecycle assessment basis when compared to conventional MGO emissions. It says no engine or fuel system modifications were required onboard the Volendam.

Several shipping firms are exploring biofuels to lower near-term carbon emissions as these fuels can be blended with conventional fuels as drop-in fuels.

“Marine biofuel is already the biggest low carbon marine fuel in the world, and we expect usage to rise sharply to 10% of total volume by 2030,” GoodFuels’ chief executive Dirk Kronemeijer said.

GoodFuels has been running trials with a range of shipping companies. In July it supplied a biofuel stem to Germany-based AIDA Cruises in Rotterdam.

By Nithin Chandran

Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online