Tanker operator Uni-Tankers and marine fuel seller KPI OceanConnect have completed the supply and trial of a bespoke blend of B30 biofuel aboard the 5,700-dwt chemical tanker M/T Alsia Swan.

During the trial, which took place in Amsterdam, KPI OceanConnect arranged for the supply of 34,000 litres of bio grade fuel containing a blend of 30% FAME (fatty acid methyl esters) and 70% fossil MGO.

The two-day trial involved the comparison of emissions for the biofuel against low-sulphur marine gasoil (LSMGO) under the same conditions.

During the course of the project, KPI OceanConnect says its local team of traders worked with Uni-Tankers to identify a biofuel to meet their bespoke needs. The team then oversaw the blending process to ensure the fuel met precise specifications, and was later on hand for the delivery to ensure the specially blended product supplied for the M/T Alsia Swan trials was of the required quality.

Throughout the trial, tests were carried out at four different loads to assess the reliability and performance of the bio-fuel blend. Alongside trials of the B30 biofuel, Uni-Tankers ran identical operations for an LSMGO fuel of equal quality, allowing accurate comparisons of the B30 biofuel's performance. Sampling and analysis for the trial was performed by a team from FORCE Technology.

In results from the trial, Uni-Tankers says it saw particulate matter (PM) emissions reduced by as much as 42% when the fuel supply was switched from LSMGO fuel to B30, and that carbon monoxide (CO) emissions were reduced by 18%. The form also notes that by using of a blend of 30% biofuel and 70% fossil MGO, the Alsia Swan is able to cut lifecycle emissions of CO2 by an equivalent amount.

Jesper Sørensen, Global Head of New Fuels and Carbon Markets, KPI OceanConnect, commented: "By sharing our knowledge and providing expert guidance on fuel strategies, including finding the right biofuel blend ratio to meet the specific needs of vessel operators, we aim to build partnerships with our clients that support their long-term success through the energy transition in shipping. For KPI OceanConnect our close partnership with Uni-Tankers is a model for delivering excellence to our clients."

Lisa Clement Jensen, Head of Strategy at Uni-Tankers, remarked: "Decarbonization is at the top our strategic agenda and we aim to contribute to a climate-resilient development of the shipping industry. These trials enable us to assess the potential and viability of biofuels as part of our ongoing decarbonization efforts."