WALLENIUS Wilhelmsen bunkered its first biofuel in South Korea as part of a trial of HSFO-Biofuel.
At Masan Port, MV Torrens was the first WW vessel to bunker B30 HSFO-Biofuel in South Korea.
HSFO Biofuel is a high-sulphur fuel oil blended with used cooking oil methyl esters (UCOME). It is a drop-in fuel that can be used in existing engines without any modification or tank cleaning.
WW said the number of suppliers worldwide offering this particular fuel is currently very limited, and the issue is compounded by the general lack of demand for marine biofuel blending in South Korea.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen manager energy sourcing Jang Hongseok said the preparation of biofuels in South Korean ports has been somewhat low despite the growing demand and supply around the world.
“As Korea is one of our major bunkering ports, stable biofuel supply is essential to secure flexibility of tonnage allocation, so I am pleased to have a B30 HSFO trial with GS Caltex, one of Korea’s major fuel suppliers, and I hope close cooperation will continue in the future,” Jang Hongseok said.
A collaboration between GS Caltex Corporation and Wallenius Wilhelmsen, supply will be limited in South Korea until the rules and regulations for biofuels are finalised by the authorities.
GS Caltex biofuel team leader Cha Hyungmin said GS Caltex hopes to expand the relationship with WW.
“GS Caltex has paved the way for developing Bio-Marine Fuels in Korea, and we expect this B30 Bio-Marine Fuel (HSFO) trial with Wallenius Wilhelmsen will be a meaningful step for scrubber-installed vessels of global shipping companies to reduce their carbon emissions when calling Korean ports,” he said.
