Stolt Tankers tests marine biofuel at Rotterdam

Norwegian shipowner Stolt Tankers successfully trialled marine biofuel at the Dutch port of Rotterdam last week.

The marine biofuel was supplied by Netherlands-based GoodFuels, and was used in Stolt Tankers' 37,000 dwt chemical tanker Stolt Inspiration on a journey from Rotterdam to Houston to assess its use in engines and boilers.

The fuel supplied was functionally equivalent to conventional fuels, so no modifications had to be made to the engine. GoodFuels' supply is derived from used cooking oil (UCO), tallow, and waste animal fats. GoodFuels said it can reduce carbon emissions by up to 90pc compared with conventional bunker fuels.

Biofuels are one of several alternative fuels under consideration by Stolt Tankers, said its president Lucas Vos, including hydrogen, wind power, ammonia, and methanol as potential future fuels.

Goodfuels, one of several marine biofuel producers in Europe alongside Shell and Finland's Neste, has supplied marine biofuel to shipping firms such as Stena Bulk, Ocean Network Express, Minship, Klaveness, and to German car maker Volkswagen.

Trading firm Trafigura's bunker supply joint venture TFG Marine and Exonnmobil has successfully trialled marine biofuels.

By Nana Kutin