CMA CGM to test sustainable marine bio-fuel

The near-zero carbon and SOx emission drop-in biofuel oil has been developed in conjunction with engine manufacturers. No engine modifications are required to run the new fuel.

Sustainable marine bio-fuel oil will be bunkered on a CMA CGM container vessel on 19 March, representing a major step towards the decarbonisation of ocean freight.

The partnership behind the trial, which will cooperate to test and scale the use of sustainable marine bio-fuel oil, also includes the international consumer goods distributor IKEA Transport & Logistics Services and the Port of Rotterdam.

Xavier Leclercq, Vice President, CMA Ships, said: “In a few days, we will be testing second-generation biofuel in one of CMA CGM’s vessels for the first time. Having an HFO-equivalent solution in bio-fuel oil available with no engineering or operational changes required to our vessel offers a safe, manageable and innovative opportunity to facilitate shipping’s wider transition to new fuel solutions.”

The involvement of IKEA Transport & Logistics Services is noteworthy, as Elisabeth Munck af Rosenschöld, Head of Sustainability, explained that after the pilot is completed, “our intention is to put the equivalent of at least all our containers out of Rotterdam on biofuel.”

A successful operation would offer container operators an alternative to both distillates and ultra-low sulphur fuel oil in order to comply with the IMO’s 2020 0.5% sulphur cap requirements, as well as impending IMO greenhouse gas reduction rules.

The sustainable marine bio-fuel oil has been developed by GoodFuels after three years of intensive testing with marine engine manufacturers. The second-generation bio-fuel oil is completely derived from forest residues and waste oil products, expected to deliver 80-90% well-to-propeller CO2 reduction versus fossil equivalents, and virtually eliminates sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions – all without any requirement for engine modifications.