Bavarian ship management company MINSHIP and its subsidiary MINMARINE have revealed that bulk carrier M/V TRUDY in their fleet of managed vessels has successfully bunkered biofuel in the Port of Rotterdam.
The biofuel bunkered by the 2009-built, 30,790 dwt bulk carrier on 17 April was GoodFuels’ sustainable Bio-fuel Oil MR1-100, which is a second-generation sustainable biofuel produced from certified feedstock that is labelled as waste or residue.
Because biofuel will be the only fuel burnt in the main engine of M/V TRUDY for the next 8-10 days, the vessel will generate up to 90% less CO2 emissions than if it was burning a conventional shipping fuel.
MINSHIP referred to the adoption of biofuel as “a huge step towards” the ship management company and its customers reaching their “ambitious CO2 reduction goals”.
Throughout the inaugural bio-fuel powered trial voyage taken by M/V TRUDY from the Port of Rotterdam, relevant performance indicators will be closely monitored to help inform future operations.
Additional trials on further vessels under the company’s management are planned, with a view to making biofuel a real alternative for the managed fleet to reduce its carbon footprint.
Markus Hiltl, managing director of MINSHIP, said: “Following more than a year of preparations between multiple stakeholders, including shipowners, fuel suppliers, flag states, insurance companies and manufacturers, the initiation of this trial, led by subsidiary organisation MINMARINE, has only been possible through the vision and support of GoodFuels.”
“This trial is a significant landmark for MINSHIP as it will allow us to demonstrate that the use of available green, alternative fuels can make shipping less dependent on fossil fuels right now,” he continued.