CSL leads maritime industry in biofuel adoption

The CSL Group, a global leader in responsible marine transportation services, proudly announces a significant milestone in its Great Lakes biofuel program – one of the longest-running initiatives of its kind in the maritime industry.

With a cumulative 75,000 running hours on B100 biofuel over the past four years, CSL ships have made significant strides in supporting decarbonization efforts by replacing 55,000 metric tonnes of fossil fuel with biodiesel and avoiding 156,000 metric tonnes of CO2.

CSL initiated its biofuel journey in 2019 with a B50 blend, gradually progressing to B80 and, in 2020, running two ships on B100 – pure biodiesel produced entirely from waste plant material unrelated to food production. Since 2021, eight CSL vessels have run continuously on B100 for five to eight months per year, proving the technical viability and practicality of biofuel in reducing well-to-wake GHG emissions and meeting regulatory limits for SOx and NOx emissions.

Since 2019, CSL’s biofuel program has played a pivotal role in shaping industry standards. CSL’s data has been used by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Classification Societies to advance progress on biofuel use in the maritime sector and has informed organizations like the International Council on Combustion Engines (CIMAC) and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

The CSL Group is a world class provider of complex marine solutions and the largest owner and operator of self-unloading ships in the world. Headquartered in Montreal with operations throughout the Americas, Australia, Europe and Africa, CSL delivers millions of tonnes of cargo annually for customers in the construction, steel, energy and agri-food sectors.