Euronav concludes successful biofuel trial and looks to long term decarbonisation

As one of the first in the oil tanker industry, Euronav has recently tested a B30 biofuel on its 2006-built Suezmax, Statia. In a statement on its website, the company said the trial with the biofuel blend from energy supplier BP was successful.

Euronav is committed to accelerate the transition to lower carbon alternatives by testing the operational readiness and emission reduction potential of biofuels in a context of strategic partnerships.

Euronav bunkered 1,502 MT of a B30 biodiesel blend manufactured by BP on Statia. The biofuel is composed of 30% advanced carbon neutral biofuel mixed with 70% of a conventional VLSFO bunker fuel. Consumption of this fuel results in a decrease of lifecycle CO2 emissions. The blend was supplied in the port of Rotterdam, where there is a government incentive in place to allow for cost effective blending of biofuels into marine fuels (Incentive Scheme for Climate-Friendly Shipping).

Statia tested approximately 360 MT of the B30 biofuel blend during a two week trial in September while the vessel was in commercial operations on its way to Angola. The trial of the blend was successful and showed no significant differences in operations or any malfunctions that could lead to a breakdown. As a result, and after departure, the remaining B30 biofuel blend on the vessel is now the only fuel in operational use, both for the main engine and the auxiliary engines, on its way to Brazil.

Rustin Edwards, Head of Fuel Oil at Euronav said, “It is important for us to understand how to handle biofuels on our vessels, to test their longevity and stability, and how they behave when used in engines, generators and alike. The migration into using biofuels is a critical step on the road to reducing emissions, as the use of biofuel will reduce our overall impact on the environment with little additional investment. The use of biofuel blends will be a critical bridge to decarbonisation until the development and commercial availability of zero emissions fuels. As we continue this journey toward decarbonization, we will keep on adjusting our operations and our fuel procurement strategies as needed.”

According to the statement, sustainable maritime fuels and zero emission technologies are the key driver to support industry’s transition to zero emission shipping. The decarbonisation voyage Euronav, and the broader maritime industry, has embarked on will bring the industry into alignment with the Paris Agreement. Euronav looks to invest in initiatives on a variety of areas and platforms. Going forward, these will help shape the industry and will support the achievement of these achievable goals.

Konstantinos Papoutsis, Sustainability Manager at Euronav added, “As one of the key contributors to the establishment of the Poseidon Principles and the Sea Cargo Charter, and as signatory of the’ Call to Action for Shipping Decarbonization’ statement from the Global Maritime Forum, Euronav places a particular emphasis on building ambitious yet seamless decarbonisation trajectories. We are and will continue to be committed to embracing innovative fuel technologies towards achieving our ambition of zero emission shipping operations. Our strategic partnerships play a pivotal role in taking up such impactful market opportunities.”