Car carrier owner UECC is starting a three-month trial of biofuel oil on one of its vessels.
The NYK and Wallenius Lines-owned company will load 3,000 tonnes of the eco-bunkers on to the 2,080-ceu Autosky (built 2000) in Rotterdam.
It has teamed up with Dutch producer GoodFuels for the trial, which it called a "significant step in advancing marine bio-fuel for the ro-ro segment".
Autosky will test biofuel oil on its normal route between Zeebrugge, Belgium, and Santander in Spain.
This will cut more than 6,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the period.
The move comes at a time when the industry is under increasing scrutiny to improve its sustainability and move towards decarbonisation.
Given sufficient scale, biofuel oil allows owners to meet the IMO 2020 sulphur limits, as well as tougher targets for carbon reduction in 2030 and 2050.
The fuel requires no changes to engines. It virtually eliminates CO2 and substantially cuts SOX emissions, GoodFuels claims.
The Dutch provider has previously worked with companies like Norden, Samskip and Boskalis on pioneering the use of biofuels.
It uses recycled cooking oil or forestry waste as feedstock.
Carbon footprint must shrink
"We are excited to play a leading role in accelerating sustainable biofuel uptake for the ro-ro segment," said UECC energy and sustainability manager Daniel Gent.
"This agreement demonstrates our commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of our existing tonnage and further complements the emissions reductions on our existing LNG fleet, as well as our LNG battery hybrid newbuilds.”
Following the trial, the two sides will explore further options for continuing marine biofuel uptake within the ro-ro segment.
"This trial will help UECC to further prove the applicability and technical suitability of biofuels for the ro-ro segment." said Isabel Welten, chief commercial officer of GoodFuels.
"Importantly, we also want to prove to leading car manufacturers that biofuels are a great way to immediately decarbonise their cargo and help change the sector for the better."
Last October, UECC declared an option for a third battery/LNG hybrid car carrier in China.
The company said Jiangnan Shipyard will build the vessel for deployment in its Atlantic shortsea trade.
The new trio will push the UECC dual-fuel LNG fleet to five vessels, more than 50% of its owned units, and take the company beyond the IMO’s target of 40% carbon reduction by 2030.
