U-Ming Marine Conducts First Bunkering of FAME B24 Biofuel U-Ming Marine Conducts First Bunkering of FAME B24 Biofuel

U-Ming Marine Transport Corporation (UMTC) has successfully completed its first bunkering of FAME B24 biofuel. The operation was carried out on July 24 aboard the bulk carrier Asian Progress. The move reflects UMTC’s broader strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The FAME B24 blend consists of 24 percent Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME), derived from biodiesel made from natural fats and oils, and 76 percent conventional marine fuel. This mixture is reported to lower a vessel’s lifecycle CO2 emissions by approximately 20 percent. Since 2023, UMTC has been gradually increasing its use of low carbon fuels. By 2024, liquefied natural gas (LNG) made up roughly 8.15 percent of the company’s overall energy consumption. However, UMTC has pointed out that the size and complexity of LNG fuel tanks make them less suitable for smaller ships. To address this, the company has started adopting B24 biofuel as a more practical solution for its smaller vessels. The fuel is now also in use aboard another UMTC vessel, Yu Zhan. The Asian Progress, under the Singapore flag, is a bulk carrier measuring 199 metres in length with a beam of 32 metres and a gross tonnage of 36,230.