LOGISTICS company Samskip has come to a formal agreement with sustainable cargo initiative GoodShipping to run part of its fleet on marine biofuels.
Samskip claims the initial usage of biofuels will enable a carbon dioxide reduction of up to 45%. It has plans to scale up a carbon dioxide reduction of up to 80% for voyages after this year.
Samskip Endeavour, an 800-TEU containership, which normally runs on traditional fuels, kicked off the partnership by using sustainable biofuels in its recent sailings. By bunkering sustainable biofuels, Samskip enables cargo owners to reduce their ocean carbon footprint significantly in their supply chains.
Two years ago, it was also Samskip Endeavour that was the first vessel to be biofuel-bunkered through the GoodShipping initiative, demonstrating the viability of biofuels as a marine alternative to fossil fuels.
Made from sustainable waste streams, the fossil-free bio-residual fuel equivalent product has proved to be a successful substitute for conventional marine fuels as part of the vessel’s operations between the Netherlands and Ireland.
Under the renewed agreement, also in partnership with GoodShipping, biofuels supplier GoodFuels is supporting Samskip’s plan to rapidly extend the use of biofuels on more of its vessels this year.
GoodFuels’ second-generation sustainable biofuels consist of certified feedstock, labelled as waste or residue. There are no land-use issues, no competition with food production or deforestation during the production process.
Samskip CCO and deputy CEO Ásbjörn Gíslason said sustainability runs through Samskip as a core value.
“We take great pride in and welcome the collaboration with GoodShipping to strengthen our deep partnership, becoming one of their fulfilment and innovation partners,” Mr Gíslason said.
“We always aim to build a better future and to leave a positive footprint on our planet. By playing a forward-thinking and pioneering role in the energy transition, our customers can now benefit from a simple and easy means of decarbonising their cargo streams. We get to pioneer advanced marine biofuels, and the environment benefits from an immediate carbon reduction.”
GoodShipping commercial lead Katarin van Orshaegen said the announcement marks an important milestone on the organisation’s journey beyond the fossil default.
“Reducing fuel emissions and consumption is a vital next step for the maritime transport industry, so we are extremely pleased to have found a stable fulfilment outlet for our sustainable cargo streams with Samskip, deepening a long-term partnership that is helping to change the way our market thinks about future fuels,” she said.
