Hopper Dredge Sails 2,000 Hours on Biofuel

Jan De Nul Group has completed, in collaboration with MAN Energy Solutions and GoodFuels, 2,000 hours using 100% renewable second generation Biofuel Oil (BFO) on board the trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) Alexander von Humboldt. The milestone represents the longest continuous use of 100% sustainable marine biofuel in the maritime industry, the partners say.

The Alexander von Humboldt was refueled at various stages over the last nine months, with reduced fossil CO2 emissions by 85%. The vessel consumed the biofuel while conducting maintenance dredging works in Flemish seaports and the U.K.

Michel Deruyck Head of Energy at Jan De Nul Group, said, “We will further explore the use of biofuel on other vessels, and continue the aim to achieve decarbonization within our business. It’s also paramount to involve our clients to meet these ambitious carbon reductions, since it’s certainly not the most economical option of the fossil-dominated fuel supply industry. Moreover, this transitional biofuel solution needs to be a sustainable primary energy source. We are open to all other sustainable primary energy sources, but for the time being most of them are financially not competitive within the existing regulatory frameworks.”

The BFO was introduced by GoodFuels in 2018. It was the first marine second generation, fossil fuel-equivalent biofuel, that is completely derived from sustainable waste feedstock in line with the latest European renewable energy directive. GoodFuels introduced the BFO as a credible carbon based solution to accelerate the energy transition.

Peter Jonckheere, Chief Engineer of Jan De Nul’s Alexander von Humboldt, said, “This sustainable marine biofuel is not only a green solution, it is also a high-quality fuel to run our engines on.”

Michel Deruyck, Head of Energy at Jan De Nul Group, said, “With our choice of this sustainable marine biofuel, we want to prove to the governments and our clients that if they have climate ambitions and incorporate these in the selection procedures, the industry is ready for it. It is very important now that the right policies and regulations follow to leverage the full potential of BFO. Research into fuels of the future is useful, but it should not prevent us from using sustainable solutions already available today for the much-needed energy transition within the shipping industry."