Maersk, the world’s biggest freight shipper, has combined with industry certifier and consultant Lloyd’s Register and the Dutch government to test biofuel in ships. Lloyd’s Register says a two-year biodiesel testing programme on board the container ship, Maersk Kalmar, would see the biofuel blended with conventional bunker fuel in increasing proportions starting at just 5 to 7 per cent.
The aviation and automotive industries already have similar testing programmes underway with results encouraging. In theory, biodiesel can be substituted for petro-diesel without engine modification but tests so far have been aimed determining just how rich a blend engines can handle and whether there are adverse effects on engine life.
Biofuels have near zero net carbon emissions when measured over their full life cycle. While burning plant-based fuels results in similar levels of carbon emissions to those of fossil fuels, biofuels are only returning carbon to the air taken out during the plants’ growth. Lloyd’s says the test biodiesel will be sourced from sustainable crops and recycled vegetable oils.
Testing will examine all aspects of use including storage stability, interaction with other materials, susceptibility to bacteria, effects on bilge water systems, cold flow properties, nitrous oxide emissions and variations in quality of supply. Maersk says it is the first to test biodiesel in a large container ship and expects that biofuels will play an increasing role in the maritime sector in future – not just for environmental reasons. Amid volatile oil prices, diversifying fuel sources lowers price risks for ship owners.
The company says it is also pursuing a number of initiatives aimed at lowering carbon emissions and has set itself a target to decrease emissions by 20 per cent by 2017. Already a slow steaming trial over the last two years has realised significant efficiency gains measured in 30 per cent fuel savings.
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is examining various options for regulating shipping carbon emissions and its environment committee will meet later this month to review a voluntary efficiency trial, of which slow steaming was a part. A carbon tax on bunker fuels was the most likely form of emissions regulation to be implemented in the maritime sector, Jacob Sterling, general manager for sustainability at Maersk Line told Emirates Business.
Emirates Business, Hellenic Shipping News, Lloyd’s Register
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