Denmark’s Maersk Supply Service is to use biofuel across its global fleet, giving clients the option of an immediate reduction in carbon output.
The owner of anchor-handling tug supply (AHTS) ships said it will use hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) — a sustainable product that replaces conventional fossil fuels without causing harm or depletion to food sources.
Maersk Supply Service Added that performance is the same as conventional bunkers.
However, no cost implications have been detailed by the company.
Jonas Munch Agerskov, chief commercial officer at Maersk Supply Service, said: “Maersk Supply Service is committed to doing what we can to facilitate a green transition in the offshore industry, both by reducing our own carbon footprint and by enabling our customers to decarbonise their operations and value chain.”
Last year, biofuel was successfully trialled on the 14,888-bhp AHTS Maersk Tender (built 2009), in partnership with Dutch green-tech start-up The Ocean Cleanup.
During an ocean-cleaning charter in the Pacific Ocean, biofuel was blended into the marine gasoil, leading to a carbon emissions saving of 38.95 tonnes for the six-week operation.
No vessel upgrades
“The trial confirmed the biofuel as a viable alternative that does not compromise on safety or performance, and does not require additional training or vessel upgrades,” Maersk Supply Service said.
“The green transition is at the heart of our strategy and we have set ambitious targets to decarbonise our operations and our fleet,” Maersk Supply Service chief operating officer Mark Handin said.
“We are exploring many initiatives and solutions to achieve this and biofuel certainly plays an important role in the roadmap to our 2040 target of net-zero operations.”
