Yang Ming to use sustainable biofuel to boost decarbonization efforts

Taiwanese shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation has decided to integrate sustainable biofuel into its fleet in line with the 2050 net-zero emissions goal. The adoption of biofuel began with Yang Ming’s 1,805 TEU containership, YM Inception, and 6,600 TEU containership, YM Masculinity. YM Inception was bunkered with biofuel in Hong Kong on March 7, while YM Masculinity received biofuel in Singapore on March 8.

These vessels are currently deployed on the Japan to/from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Thailand service, JTC, and the Far East to/from Middle East service, CGX, respectively. Collaborating with energy providers Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical and KPI OceanConnect, both vessels were bunkered with B24 biofuel, certified by the International Sustainability Carbon Certification (ISCC). This sustainable fuel is a blend of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) and very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO).

Yang Ming aims to achieve a significant reduction of approximately 20 per cent in carbon emissions compared to conventional fuel oil by embracing biofuel. Despite the higher costs, Yang Ming plans to gradually expand the use of biofuel in 2024, continuing research and investment in new alternative energy sources to achieve a 20% reduction in total carbon emissions by 2030 compared to 2018 levels, according to Yang Ming Chairman Cheng Cheng-Mount.
In addition to integrating biofuel, Yang Ming has implemented various energy-saving and emission-reduction measures in its fleet. These include retrofitting existing vessels for enhanced energy efficiency, utilizing big data analysis to optimize vessel performance, and implementing route optimization strategies.

Furthermore, the shipping company expects the delivery of five newly-built 15,500 TEU LNG dual-fuel containerships starting in 2026. In 2023, Yang Ming signed a contract with South Korea’s shipbuilding major HD Hyundai Heavy Industries for the construction of these LNG dual-fuel boxships. This development is expected to contribute to reducing environmental impact and fostering sustainable development.