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Singapore in marine biofuels pilot project

Singapore in marine biofuels pilot project
BHP Biliton and GoodFuels Marine have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI), with the support of the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to collaborate on a marine biofuels pilot project in the city state's port.

The LoI was signed in conjunction with a closed-door roundtable on Thursday with 13 participating companies and organisations, which apart from the three parties to the LoI, also included shipowners Berge Bulk, Boskalis, Oldendorff, Mitsui OSK Lines and NYK Bulkship.

The pilot project is expected to be carried out early next year, and GoodFuels said that from now on biofuels would be available in the port of Singapore.

“We are pleased to facilitate discussions on the biofuels front along with our partners, BHP and GoodFuels. The roundtable comes at an opportune time in light of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 0.5% global sulphur cap on marine fuels which will come into effect from 2020, as well as IMO’s longer term plan to lower carbon emissions for shipping,” said Andrew Tan chief executive of the MPA.

Among the topics discussed at the roundtable included barriers to the use to biofuels and how these could be addressed.

Abdes Karimi, manager ocean freight operations & sustainability of BHP, said: “In a world fighting to combat climate change, it is important that marine biofuels get in the ‘evoked set’ of options for shippers to choose from. Today, BHP is proud to have taken the leading role in this initiative.”

Nanyang Technological University will also soon be establishing a centre of excellence focusing on maritime environment & energy, with support from MPA and the Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI).