Spliethoff trials 100% biofuel bunkers from GoodFuels

Dutch ship operator Spliethoff Group has been trialling various Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) based biofuel blends on its vessels as part of its carbon-cutting measures.

PHOTO: Spliethoff Group's multipurpose vessel, the Flevogracht, is running a 100% FAME biofuel trial. Spliethoff Group

Between June and November last year, Spliethoff trialled a 50-50% FAME-heavy fuel oil blend on the HTV BigLift Baffin, a heavy transport vessel operated by its subsidiary BigLift Shipping.

Tests were conducted to see how well the vessel ran on the biofuel blend and whether the blend can be stored long-term before use while retaining quality.

Spliethoff is currently testing 100% FAME biofuel on one of its multipurpose vessels, the Flevogracht, which was bunkered in Amsterdam on 13 December. If this trial proves successful, Spliethoff will look to offer biofueled shipping on certain trade routes.

Dutch biofuel supplier GoodFuels supplied the fuel for both of the trials.

GoodFuels has been testing biofuel blends with a range of shipping firms in recent months, including a trial on Eagle Bulk Shipping’s 63,528 dwt bulk carrier the MV Sydney Eagle in Terneuzen last December, claiming an 80-90% well-to-exhaust reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.