Singapore’s GCMD completes final biofuel trial with Hapag-Lloyd and BP

Singapore’s Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) has successfully concluded its final biofuel trial in collaboration with German container firm Hapag-Lloyd and energy giant BP.

This marks the fifth and final trial in an $18 million project initiated by GCMD in 2022, aimed at testing various biofuel blends to reduce carbon emissions in maritime shipping.

During this latest trial, BP supplied 4,500 metric tons of a B30 biofuel blend to a Hapag-Lloyd container vessel at Rotterdam port. The blend comprised 30% neat fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and 70% very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), resulting in a 27.9% reduction in emissions compared to conventional VLSFO.

Additionally, tracing technology was employed to verify the biofuel’s origin and composition. Based on the trials’ findings, GCMD will release a framework for marine biofuels in the fourth quarter of this year.

GCMD continues engaging in other marine biofuel projects, including collaborating with Japanese shipping major NYK Line.