The GLOVIS SUNRISE, a vehicle carrier vessel owned by Hyundai GLOVIS, has become the first Korean-flagged PCTC vessel to use sustainable biofuels during its voyage between Europe and the Persian Gulf.
The refuelling of 500 MT of GoodFuels' MDF1-30 biofuels blend took place during the vessel's port visit to Vlissingen (Flushing), in the Netherlands, on 28 December 2022.
This bio-bunkering trial marks a significant milestone for Hyundai GLOVIS as it aligns with the company's sustainability strategy, which prioritizes the use of sustainable "drop-in" fuels.
GoodFuels' biofuel is produced using feedstocks that are certified as 100% waste or residue, such as used cooking oil and animal waste fats, and delivers a CO2 reduction of 80 to 90% compared to fossil fuels.
Additionally, the biofuel was used without requiring any modifications to the engine or tanks, thanks to its "drop in" properties.
This successful bio-bunkering is a testament to Hyundai GLOVIS' commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its fleet of 153 vessels, improving its green logistics capabilities, and expanding the utilization of sustainable and renewable energy sources.
Dirk Kronemeijer, CEO of GoodFuels, said: “This first bio-bunkering in collaboration with Hyundai GLOVIS marks an exciting milestone towards decarbonised maritime transport and more sustainable supply chains. It also shows the central role that biofuels can play in reducing shipping’s carbon footprint today, as a safe, convenient and technically viable option to slash emissions from commercial vessels by up to 90%.
“We are delighted to see biofuels being adopted as a decarbonisation solution in more regions of the world, as this first bio-bunkering for a Korean vessel demonstrates. The climate emergency demands action now, and we are glad to be working with pioneers like Hyundai GLOVIS who are walking the talk of sustainable transport with concrete action.”
Commenting on this first bio-bunkering Tae-Woo KIM, Senior Vice President, Head of Shipping Business Division, at Hyundai GLOVIS said: “In a fast-evolving business environment, we are committed to continuously innovate to deliver greater sustainability across our logistics and shipping activities. This means exploring a number of options to decarbonise our fleets, today and in the future. As we strive to provide efficient and sustainable maritime transportation to global automotive manufacturers, including Hyundai Motor Group, Kia, and Volkswagen, we are delighted to see the results of this biofuels trial, which shows that tangible emissions reductions can be achieved today on existing fleets. Biofuels will also play a key role in our future strategy, as we continue to develop a maritime transportation system tailored to the green supply chains of the future.”