Maritime Shipping Companies Successfully Trial Biofuel

Several promising trials using biofuels to power large scale shipping vessels recently been completed, providing a potential short term way for the shipping industry to reduce carbon emissions.

9, a:1:{i:0;s:8:”defaults”;}, Maritime Shipping Companies Successfully Trial Biofuel, Several promising trials using biofuels to power large scale shipping vessels recently been completed, providing a potential short term way for the shipping industry to reduce carbon emissions., Several promising trials using biofuels to power large scale shipping vessels recently been completed, providing a potential short term way for the shipping industry to reduce carbon emissions.

The biofuel supplier GoodFuels reported that Ocean Network Express (ONE), as well as Eastern Pacific Shipping, had recently completed trans-Atlantic crossings using biofuel to power their ships, with no noticeable difference reported in engine performance.

This was seen as promising, as by using biofuels the carbon dioxide emissions of these ships were reduced by 70 metric tonnes per day, with the only emissions from the ship coming from auxiliaries.

The primary downsides that were found during these tests were higher consumption of fuel, with ten per cent more biofuel being used for the journey compared to heavy fuel oil (HFO), and a higher amount of nitrogen oxides being emitted from the engine.

As well as this, the two ships, both over a decade old, needed to have clean fuel tanks, use belt cleaners and required special training for the crew to know how to handle the new fuel source.

Despite this, the trial was primarily seen as a major success, showcasing that sustainable biofuels could be used with existing ships with little to no modification and that the only considerations that would affect potential future use being cost and availability of high-quality biofuels.

As well as these most recent trials, GoodFuels has also helped BMW and Volkswagen trial biofuels on their car carrier vessels, and Stena Bulk had a successful trial of biofuels in Spring 2020.

Why Use Biofuels For Sea Freight?

Sea Freight has a tremendously large carbon footprint, with almost 3 per cent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions being attributed to the industry.

The biggest reason for this is that due to the scale of sea freight, many if not most shipping companies use heavy fuel oil, the most polluting and least refined form of engine fuel available.

Such is the polluting effect of HFO that it is banned on routes that travel in the Arctic Ocean.

The International Maritie Organisation has agreed to draft measures that will force sea freight to be more energy-efficient and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.

Biofuels, as well as less polluting refined fuels and liquid petroleum gas (LPG), have been suggested as short term solutions.

The cost has been described as the primary factor in whether they will become as widely adopted in sea freight as they have increasingly become for long-distance haulage.

Whilst biofuels can in some cases emit carbon dioxide, they are sustainable and carbon neutral across the lifecycle of fuel generation. The biomass that is used to create refined fuel captures carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Other technologies are being developed in parallel to more sustainable biofuels which will further decrease the carbon footprint of the industry. These include hydrogen fuel cells, advance sail-based vessels and long-distance electric engines.

As these are being developed the industry has decided that it cannot stand still and switching to biofuels allows for a very quick sustainability gain., field_544dcaa8220f0, , field_543e9601d7f94

More News

Hoverdale Vulcanising Services

What is Conveyor Belt Vulcanising?

The Essential Role of Vulcanising in Conveyor Belt Durability and Maintenance. Vulcanising is a pivotal process in the manufacturing and

Shopping Basket
× Need help? Click here to chat

MATT BEVERLEY

A time served Mechanical engineer Matt’s background includes many high-profile projects within the Automotive Industry: The Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Cullinan, Spyker Le-Mans racing teams, Bentley, Aston Martin, and Airbus A380. This history and knowledge of complex manufacturing and engineering projects have been transferred and further developed into the bulk material handling sector. Matt has work in Europe, North America, Indonesia, and China

He joined the bulk solids and bulk handling industry in 2019 as Managing Director of Hoverdale UK Ltd and subsequently completed a Management buyout in July 2020. The business has grown yearly, increased employment, its customer base, and worldwide reputation, and disrupted the market with groundbreaking innovative technology. Since Matt took over Hoverdale, the company has filed four patents for innovation; one was granted in 2023 for a design to improve bulk handling. The success had been driven by delivering tailored solutions to the waste recycling sectors that keep material flowing out and money flowing in.

Awards Include

  • 2024 – Shapa company of the Year
  • 2024- Shapa Innovation in Technology
  • 2024- MHEA Engineer of the year
  • 2021 – MHEA Innovation of the year
  • 2021- IMechE Innovation award

Current Positions Include.

  • Group Chairman Hoverdale UK Ltd
  • President (MHEA) Material Handling Engineers Association
  • Vice Chairman: IMechE Bulk Material Handling Committee
  • Council Member: (SHAPA) Solids Handling & Particle Association
  • Member: Chartered Management Institute

Matt has been happily married to Julie for 22 years and has 4 children, 3 of which are involved within the Hoverdale group of companies. He is an RFU level 2 qualified coach and referee having been in several head coaching roles at various age groups from under 6’s to adults for his local team Nuneaton RFC. He believes in the core values that rugby teaches of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, Sportsmanship and try’s to carry this through in his day to day business activities. He is passionate at brining the next generation of young, diverse engineers into the sector through promotion of apprenticeship scheme and further education routes.

DAVID BARTER

David is an experienced leader, with a background covering Operations, eCommerce, Finance, Compliance, HR and IT. His career spans Banking, Retail and Engineering, spending the majority of his career working for ALDI as they grew to become 4th largest supermarket in the UK, including seven years on their UK board as Managing Director of IT and eCommerce.

David joined Hoverdale’s Senior Management Team in 2023 to seek a fresh challenge in a completely different industry sector. He has applied his approach to Process Improvement, Efficiency, Customer Service and Teamwork to great effect during Hoverdale’s sustained growth.

Married to Jane, with three adult sons between them, David volunteers on the board of the Nottingham Playhouse theatre as well as his local rugby and football clubs. Any spare time he spends enjoying walks with their Golden Retriever, Buzz, who is also regularly seen in the Hoverdale office.

BEN DUCHESNE

Ben is a time serviced field service engineer in the busy waste and recycling sector, who’s career moved into to managing service teams and beyond. Originally beginning his career with a HGV repair and maintenance apprenticeship with IVECO, from there travelling and working in multiple countries moving towards waste processing shredders.

Ben joined the Hoverdale team in September 2024 seeking to apply his extensive knowledge to a new area. His values and ethics fit perfectly within the Hoverdale ethos.

He is happily married to Kristina, with 4 wonderful young children; 14, 11, 8 and 5. We the children he doesn’t get much spare time. He is a family man, who enjoys spending as much time with them as possible.