ONE carries out fourth biofuel trial

Ocean Network Express (ONE) has carried out its fourth biofuel trial onboard MOL ENDOWMENT.

The trial was conducted as part of the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation’s (GCMD) pilot project to establish a quality, quantity and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) abatement assurance framework for drop-in biofuels.

The M/V MOL ENDOWMENT was refuelled with 992 metric tonnes of marine biofuel product at the Port of Singapore on 21 December 2022.

The vessel, deployed on ONE’s Japan Straits Malaysia (JSM) service, fully utilised the biofuel in 20 days.

Biofuel consumption started on 7 January 2023 after the vessel left the port of Kobe in Japan, passing Keelung, Hong Kong and then sailed to Southeast Asia. The biofuel was then fully consumed on 26 January on its return voyage to Japan from Port Klang.

The substance in use – supplied by Chevron – was B24, a blend of Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester (UCOME), and Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO).

The trial required no modifications to the marine engines or fuel infrastructure, according to ONE.

The use and testing of the biofuel were performed in partnership with shipowner Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) Ltd.

The biofuel was supplied in accordance with the standard on specifications of marine biofuel established by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

According to ONE, the trial also marked “a step forward in digitisation as the biofuel transaction was made digitally through the Singapore Trade Data Exchange (SGTraDex),” in an effort to reduce paper-based processes.

ONE and Seaspan Corporation just concluded their second joint crisis management drill.

The simulation tested the emergency response procedures of both companies and focused on post-pandemic hybrid work models and how they affect inter and intra-organisational workflow.