STOLT Tankers, which operates a fleet of 152 tankers, is partnering with GoodFuels to trial the use of a marine biofuel produced from sustainable and certified feedstocks.

The trial will take place on board the 37,000 DWT chemical tanker Stolt Inspiration as she travels from Rotterdam, the Netherlands to Houston, United States.

The trial is designed to assess the viability of the future use of biofuels in both engines and boilers, and will test the fuel’s impact on consumption, power and reliability.

According to Stolt, the ship’s management team and crew onboard will manage the trial to ensure complete operational safety and optimal performance.

Lucas Vos, president Stolt Tankers said, “I am excited to see the results of the trial.

“This is just one of the areas that we are exploring as the industry moves towards a carbon-neutral future.

“We are committed to working with other leaders to explore innovative technologies including biofuels, hydrogen, wind, ammonia and methanol, to reduce our environmental footprint, while continuing to provide customers with the high quality service they expect from us.”

Bunkering for the trial was completed at the end of last week at the Port of Rotterdam, where the Stolt Inspiration received the biofuel which is derived from feedstocks such as used cooking oil, tallow and waste animal fats. The fuel, supplied by GoodFuels, has the potential to deliver a well-to-exhaust CO2 reduction of between 80 and 90% compared to fossil fuel equivalents.

The biofuel used is functionally equal to petroleum-derived marine fuels, and no modifications to the engine or the fuel infrastructure were required.

Isabel Welten, chief commercial officer at GoodFuels, said, “We believe passionately in the tanker segment’s sustainability vision, and we’re proving that advanced biofuels can have an immediate impact in reducing emissions.

“By supplying a credible low-carbon alternative to Stolt Tankers, together we’re marking another vital step towards advancing the uptake of marine biofuels while also supporting the wider maritime industry in meeting its decarbonisation goals.”