PARTNERS of the Rotterdam-Singapore Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC) have successfully piloted bunkering of mass-balanced liquefied bio-methane (LBM) at the Port of Rotterdam.
A release from the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) detailed that a total of 100 tonnes of mass-balanced LBM was supplied by Shell to liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered containership CMA CGM TIVOLI.
The LBM, produced from waste-based feedstock, used in the pilot provides a lower-emission alternative to conventional marine fuels.
Led by the bio-methane working group, the MPA said the initiative supports the GDSC’s broader commitment to advancing the adoption of near-zero emission fuels along one of the world’s busiest shipping trade routes.
Led by SEA-LNG, the bio-methane working group was established to encourage the uptake of low to zero emission fuels, with other working groups also exploring pathways for alternative fuels such as methanol, ammonia and hydrogen.
The MPA confirmed the methane is accompanied by a proof of sustainability certificate verifying that the LBM fuel supplied complies with regulations from the European Union, with the certificate to undergo auditing by accredited third-parties.
The pilot applied mass balance methodology to track the movement of the LBM through the supply chain and ensure compliance with nternational Sustainability and Carbon Certification-European Union standards, Renewable Energy Directive II, and FuelEU Maritime regulations, the MPA said.
The MPA said the test will also provide CMA CGM with the opportunity to ensure that mass-balanced LBM is properly recognised by the authorities in relation to the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) regulation.
A similar LBM bunkering pilot with full sustainability certification is reportedly planned at the Port of Singapore.
In August 2022 the MPA and the Port of Rotterdam signed a memorandum of understanding to establish what they called the world’s longest green and digital corridor.
