The shipping line has partnered with GoodFuels, a supplier of sustainable marine biofuel, to test the use of the company's Bio-Fuel Oil (MR1-100 or BFO) on the Autosky car carrier.
A total of some 3,000t will be bunkered at the Port of Rotterdam during the three-month-long March-May 2020 trial, with Autosky continuing to serve the Zeebrugge-Santander route.
According to the parties, switching standard bunker to biofuel will slash the vessel's CO2 well-to-wake emissions by more than 6,500t.
Following the trial period UECC and GoodFuels will explore further options for continuing marine biofuel uptake.
"GoodFuels' BFO is the first ever residual fuel-equivalent biofuel, requiring no changes to marine engines. The biofuel 'drops in' to normal fuel tanks, virtually eliminating CO2 and substantially reducing SOX. Due to the absence of sulphur, the Bio-Fuel Oil can also be used to replace distillate fuels," UECC wrote in a press release.
"At UECC, we pride ourselves on supporting sustainable solutions to the issues that our planet faces. We are excited to play a leading role in accelerating sustainable biofuel uptake for the ro-ro segment. 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," Daniel Gent, Energy & Sustainability Manager, UECC, commented.
Isabel Welten, CCO, GoodFuels, added, "This trial will help UECC to further prove the applicability and technical suitability of biofuels for the ro-ro segment. 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."
Photo: UECC