Oldendorff trials biofuel on Brazil-Asia voyage

German bulk carrier company Oldendorff Carriers has tested a biofuel blend on one of its bulk carriers.

PHOTO: Oldendorff Carriers' bulk carrier Hinrich Oldendorff. Oldendorff Carriers

The 209,113-dwt bulk carrier Hinrich Oldendorff was bunkered with 286 mt of a B24 biofuel blend in Singapore last month. The B24 blend was made up of 24% biofuel produced from used cooking oil blended with 76% conventional marine fuel.

After loading up on B24, the vessel sailed to Brazil using conventional fuel, where it loaded iron ore and set sail back to Asia (country not specified, but AIS data suggests it is heading back to Singapore). The biofuel will be burned during this voyage. 

The company has partnered with Brazilian mining firm Vale to conduct the biofuel trials. The Hinrich Oldendorff, which loaded iron ore for Vale in Guaiba Island Terminal in Brazil earlier this week.

Oldendorff Carriers has previously conducted biofuel trials on smaller vessels and for shorter routes, but this will be its first full voyage consuming biofuel on a bigger vessel.

By Nithin Chandran

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