21/12/2021, 15:07 BP and Maersk Tankers say biofuel test proves 'drop-in' viability | TradeWinds

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Carol Howle, BP’s executive vice president of trading & shipping , at a vessel naming. She said biofuel test was a step in decarbonising the energy major's huge shipping presence Photo: BP

BP and Maersk Tankers say biofuel test proves 'drop-in' viability

Energy major supplies B30 fuel for product tanker sailings that companies claim can cut emissions while having no
adverse effects on equipment or machinery

20 December 2021 10:28 GMT

UPDATED 
20 December 2021 10:28 GMT

By Paul Berrill
 in 
  London 

BP and Maersk Tankers have completed trials using biofuel-blended marine fuel in two product tankers which they say prove they can be used as a
'drop-in fuel' to help cut carbon emissions.

B30 biofuel was tested on the 40,000-dwt Maersk Cirrus (built 2017) and 46,000-dwt Maersk Navigator (built 2016) product tankers which are on
time-charter to the energy major.

The vessels sailed from Rotterdam to West Africa after being supplied with bp Marine B30 biofuel, consisting of 30% fatty acid methyl esters
(FAME) blended with very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO).

FAME is an alternative fuel largely produced from recycled cooking oils and renewable oil sources. It has physical
properties similar to conventional diesel but is biodegradable.

Maersk Tankers commercially manages the largest tanker fleet in the world while at any one-time BP, as a major
fuel and lubricants supplier and operator and charterer of tankers, has around 300 ships on the water moving its
Minerva Gas becomes products around the world.
first Greek member of
The companies said they came together in the trials, which were supported by the Danish Maritime Authority as
Moller-backed zero-
carbon research part of their contribution to decarbonising the shipping industry which counts for around 3% of global carbon
partnership emissions.
Read more
No adverse effects to equipment or machinery were observed during or after the trials, they said.

Maersk Tankers chief executive Christian Ingerslev said the need to cut emissions is one of the most important
challenges facing shipping.

"We are only able to rise to this challenge if we do it in partnerships and explore a multitude of solutions. With BP,
we are combining our expertise to play our part in testing and making alternative fuels available"
GHG emissions ratings
start to shape charter
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21/12/2021, 15:07 BP and Maersk Tankers say biofuel test proves 'drop-in' viability | TradeWinds

market BP aims to regularly supply biofuel blends for their operated and time-charter vessels when they refuel in the
Read more Netherlands, subject to owners and flag-state approval.

Carol Howle, BP's executive vice president of trading & shipping added: "With an ambition to be a net-zero company
by 2050 and help the world get there too, it's vital we help decarbonise this hard-to-abate sector."

Throughout the trials, tests were carried out to assess the reliability and performance of the B30 biofuel blend in
each ship’s main engine, auxiliary engine and boiler, and any impact on fuel tanks to determine the level of
interchangeability with other fuel types. No modifications to the engine or infrastructure were required, the
companies said

The origination and production of the feedstocks used to produce FAME is certified for its sustainability to
internationally recognised standards.

Maersk Tankers was sold by the AP Moller-Maersk group to the family-controlled AP Moller Holding in 2017, in a
joint ownership deal with Japan's Mitsui & Co.

The tanker company said it is deploying solutions to help shipowners boost the economic and environmental Maersk Tankers owns more than
70 oil product carriers - pictured
performance of their vessels through its pools and industry-wide collaboration. the 49,800-dwt Maersk Tangier
(built 2016) Photo: Maersk Tankers
However, its strategy has differed from the publicly listed Maersk liner shipping group which has largely espoused
biofuels to move toward methanol and other hydrogen-based alternative low
emission fuels.

(Copyright)

Technology Ship Management Maersk Tankers BP AP Moller Holding Denmark Biofuels

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