Australian Pacific support vessel marks clean-energy milestone with 1st renewable diesel refuel

Photo: The government of Australia

Australia’s Pacific support vessel ADV Reliant has achieved a major milestone in strengthening the nations fuel resilience by refueling with renewable diesel for the first time, the Australian defense department announced Oct. 23. 

While docked in Townsville, Queensland, the vessel took on 130,000 liters (34,342 gallons) of a 30 percent renewable diesel blend, demonstrating that defense platforms can operate on lower-emission fuels without compromising capability. 

Brigadier Mark Baldock, the director general of fuel capability, said the initiative reflects the defense department’s commitment to improving energy resilience and diversifying fuel supply chains.  

“Renewable diesel offers a practical pathway to strengthen Australia’s sovereign fuel supply, while contributing to a more sustainable defense force,” Baldock said. 

“By improving our ability to operate flexibly across a range of fuel types, the defense department is now better equipped to adopt cleaner and more resilient energy solutions across our operations,” he said.  

ADV Reliant is an offshore support vessel with significant range, endurance and specialist equipment to deliver Australian government-directed activities. 

Over the next two months, ADV Reliant and her crew will visit Pacific Island nations to deliver essential supplies and equipment as part of Australia’s enduring commitment to regional stability and partnership. 

Commodore Heath Robertson, the support-force commander, said the vessel will serve as a platform for education and awareness around sustainable fuels—both in Australia and across the Pacific. 

“The fueling of ADV Reliant with renewable diesel marks a significant step in our efforts to integrate sustainable-fuel alternatives into Navy operations,” Robertson said.  

“This initiative will provide critical support to national emissions-reduction objectives, particularly in the southwest Pacific, where the effects of climate change are already being felt,” he said.  

The defense department is working with industry to transition to domestically produced fuel as Australian low-carbon fuel production scales up.  

Renewable diesel is a drop-in replacement for traditional fossil-based marine diesel fuel and can be used across both military and civilian platforms without requiring modifications to ships, equipment or fuel-handling systems.