NYK Line, Astomos Energy join GCMD’s bio-bunker test project

Biofuel will be supplied to power a very large LPG carrier owned by Japanese shipping firm NYK Line and chartered to Astomos Energy Corporation for a trial run.

PHOTO: NYK Line's LPG carrier Gas Capricorn. NYK Line

NYK Line did not specify which kind of biofuel, or the proportion of biofuel to conventional fuel in a blend, that will be used for this trial.

But it regards biofuels as a promising option to decarbonise shipping emissions without altering existing ship engines and bunker infrastructure.

The biofuels project was launched by the Singapore-based Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) and other 18 industry partners. It involves 12 vessels that will bunker B30 biofuel blends in Singapore, Rotterdam and Houston.

As part of the project, shipping firms will conduct trial operations using biofuels and provide data on their usage to GCMD.

NYK Line tested pure B100 biodiesel on its vessel last month. The biodiesel was produced by Finnish refiner Neste and delivered by energy firm Itochu Enex.

Norwegian firm Spar Shipping has also recently completed a trial of B100 biofuel on its bulk carrier during a voyage from the Netherlands to Turkey. The stem was delivered by Dutch biofuel supplier GoodFuels.