BG Freight Line and NYK Line are boosting biofuel use
BG Freight Line has unveiled its greenest ships yet with four new vessels it said will help its customers significantly reduce their carbon emissions.
The new ships each will have a srubber for onboard CO2 and sulphur capture, and have increased capacity for cargo which will result in a lower carbon footprint per container.
BG’s vesssels are also equipped to handle biomethanol, allowing them to be powered by the sustainable fuel source as it becomes available in ports.
Named to reflect their colours, BG Green, BG Blue, BG Red, and BG Orange, the vessels are 170-m long and can carry up to 1,380 containers – 300 more than the older ships in BG Freight Line’s fleet can carry.
Part of the Peel Ports Group, the UK’s second-largest port operator, BG Freight Line’s new ships are part of the Group’s plans to become net zero across its operations by 2040.
With the ships servicing the container route between Liverpool and Rotterdam, BG Green is the first vessel in operation, having made its maiden voyage from the Port of Liverpool on 27 April, with the other vessels set to come into service later this year.
Peel Ports Group chief operating officer David Huck said, “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at Peel Ports and we are delighted to welcome these new ships, which are showing how green the maritime logistics sector can be.
“The innovation behind their design represents the future of sustainability in shipping, and we are proud to be a part of this. Shipping has always been the most sustainable and effective way to transport goods, but now with BG Freight Line’s new ships, it will be even more so.”
In Asia, the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) has teamed up with NYK Line to launch Project LOTUS, a six-month trial of biofuels use to understand their impact on engine performance and onboard systems operations.
This project will trial the continuous use of a biofuels blend comprising of 24% fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and very low sulphur fuel oil on board a shortsea vehicle carrier that will call at multiple ports.
A statement explained, “FAME, a readily available biofuel derived from second-generation feedstocks, offers a promising fuel alternative for immediate greenhouse gas emissions reduction due to its compatibility with existing engines and bunkering infrastructure. However, concerns remain regarding the impact of its extended use on vessel operations. Unlike conventional marine fuels, FAME can be more susceptible to chemical degradation and microbial growth, the byproducts of which can corrode shipboard engine systems and/or clog fuel delivery systems.”
To fully understand the opportunity FAME presents to the shipping sector, a thorough investigation of the impact on its long-term use and an evaluation of the total cost of adoption is critical. Project LOTUS aims to address this knowledge gap by establishing industry guidelines for monitoring engine and equipment performance when using biofuels. This pilot will evaluate the total cost of ownership of using biofuels, covering the cost of fuel and additional maintenance costs associated with its use. It will also identify potential challenges, such as corrosion of engine systems and valve failures, and recommend mitigation strategies.
GCMD will lead Project LOTUS in collaboration with industry partners. NYK Line, a co-sponsor, will contribute the vessel and manage fuel procurement. VPS will handle fuel and lube oil analyses and Gard will support GCMD as an insurance and risk assessment consultant on the project.
Riviera Maritime Media’s Maritime Decarbonisation Conference, Europe 2024 will be held in Amsterdam, 24 September 2024, click here for more information on this industry-leading event
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.