The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation in Singapore (GCMD) announced this week that it had completed the final trials of biofuels for ships, with German container company Hapag-Lloyd as well as energy giant BP.

The GCMD started an 18 million dollar project in 2022 to test various biofuel blends and reduce carbon emissions.

Shippers are looking at biofuels as an alternative fuel for their ships or bunker fuels to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

During the final test, BP provided 4,500 metric tonnes of a biofuel blend consisting 30% of neat fatty acids methyl esters and 70% of very low sulphur oil to a container ship operated by Hapag-Lloyd in Rotterdam.

According to GCMD and Hapag-Lloyd, the use of B30 resulted in a reduction of emissions of 27.9% compared to sailing on conventional VLSFO.

The blend was also traced using a technology that verifies the biofuel's origin and amount.

The GCMD said that following the trials it will provide guidance on marine fuel in the fourth quarter of this year.

The GCMD has also been involved in marine biofuel projects with other shipping companies, such as the Japanese NYK Line. (Reporting and editing by Tom Hogue; Jeslyn Lerh, reporting)