Tugboats in Sohar set to run on biofuel

The Omani port plans to run all tugboats operated by Svitzer on biofuel.

PHOTO: Biofuel blend being delivered to a tugboat using trucks in Sohar, Sohar Port and Freezone

This move comes after one of the tugs successfully trialled the B20 marine biofuel blend.

The B20 blend was made up of 20% biofuel and 80% conventional marine fuel, according to Sohar Port and Freezone. The bunkering was carried out in collaboration with local biofuel supplier Wakud and Omani bunker supplier Hormuz Marine.

The B20 biofuel component was derived from used cooking oil and is ISCC-certified, Hormuz Marine's CEO Sulaiman Alhadhrami told ENGINE. The company is the first supplier to offer bio-bunkers in Sohar.

The port authority claims that it has become one of the first ports in the Middle East to use biofuel for tugboat operations.

By Nithin Chandran and Manjula Nair  

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