GoodFuels helps to successfully complete biofuel-powered trial voyage
Spar Lynx was refuelled with GoodFuels’ biofuel during its port stay in Dordrecht, in the Netherlands, before sailing to the port of Icdas, in Turkey. The next-generation sustainable biofuel was derived from a variety of feedstocks certified as 100% waste or residue, including processed used cooking oil, tallow, and animal waste fats.
The trial was the first bio-bunkering undertaken by Spar Shipping and its ship management partner, Fleet Management.
Over the voyage, Spar Lynx saw an 85% cut in sulphur oxides (SOx) emissions when compared to traditional fossil-based marine fuels.
The trial also further confirmed the safety and technical viability of biofuels for the future fuel mix.
Jarle Ellefsen, Managing Director at Spar Shipping AS said: “There is particular industry attention on the suitability and applicability of biofuels to legacy tonnage. With regards to Supramax and Ultramax tonnage, which Spar Shipping AS represents, we consider biofuels may well be the only viable sustainable solution for modern tonnage as well. As a tonnage provider, we are looking to facilitate and make feasible sustainable solutions that are technically as well as economically viable. It is all about providing added flexibility to the charterers or operators of existing tonnage.
“Sustainability is also about affordability, and part of the picture is to enable the biofuels industry to scale up and secure both availability as well as low-cost sustainable biofuel alternatives for the maritime industry. The sustainable biofuels industry needs takers to be able to scale up, and the maritime industry is looking for availability and low cost.”
Dirk Kronemeijer, CEO of GoodFuels, said: “As a market leader and pioneer, we are proud to supply our sustainable biofuel to Spar Shipping AS as a credible sustainable solution which can match their operational needs.”
Kishore Rajvanshy, managing director at Fleet Management, said: “Environmental stewardship is a key area of our Caravel Group and Fleet Management sustainability strategy.”