OOCL, IKEA and Kyocera collaborate on B24 biofuel voyage

The fuel used on the voyage was a B24 or 24% biofuel blend, with ISCC certified Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester as a component in VLSFO. Replacing fossil fuel with biofuel can reduce carbon emissions in shipping on a well-to-wake basis, as the CO2 emitted when the fuel is burned was initially captured by the growth of the biofuel feedstock. On a lifecycle basis, the majority of CO2 emissions are effectively eliminated by the cycle of capturing atmospheric CO2 through plant/algae growth, then releasing it when the fuel is burned.

The amount of carbon saved on the voyage will be attributed to the partners, reducing the cargo's carbon footprint. A Green Certificate will be issued to each partner as a credible certification of the saved carbon emissions by opting for biofuel. The process is verified and powered by Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN), with carbon emission saving calculation and allocation tracked by blockchain, with a traceable and immutable record.

OOCL has used biofuels on some of its vessels since 2023. Biofuels are often drop-in replacements for their fossil fuel equivalents, requring minimal changes to machinery and shipboard operations.

Trials of a range of biofuels on different vessel types and engines have accelerated in recent months as companies look to establish the compatibility of engines and biofuels, as well as the viability of biofuels as a means of lowering CO2 emissions without investing in costly retrofits.

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Michael Xu, Director of Trades at OOCL, said: “Working with partners on low-carbon shipping is definitely a very important milestone in OOCL’s environmental and sustainability journey that enables both OOCL and our partners to advance towards their own decarbonisation roadmap. We are keen to establish additional long-lasting sustainability collaborations with all our partners and stakeholders to reduce emissions along the supply chain and to create a greener future together.”