JAPANESE shipping major NYK Line and the Singapore-based Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) will launch a six-month project for trialing marine biofuel for bunkering, they said in a joint statement on Thursday (May 9).
The companies will trial the use of a biofuel blend consisting of 24 per cent fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) onboard a short-sea vehicle carrier that will call at multiple ports.
By 2030, NYK aims to reduce the group’s greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent from 2021.
The shipper has been conducting full-scale trials of the long-term use of biofuels in navigating existing heavy oil-powered vessels to achieve this target, said Nobuhiro Kashima, senior managing executive officer of NYK Line.
Biofuels including FAME are among several alternative ship fuels, also known as bunker fuels, that shippers are exploring to reduce carbon emissions.
The project will evaluate the total cost of ownership of using biofuels, including the cost of fuel and additional maintenance costs.
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It will also identify and tackle potential challenges related to continuous biofuels use, such as engine system corrosion and valve failures. REUTERS
