Port of Inverness, Scotland, takes 1st delivery of renewable diesel for pilot boats

Photo: Port of Inverness

The Port of Inverness in Scotland announced Feb. 19 that it has taken delivery of its first batch of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), also known as renewable diesel, to use as a replacement for marine gasoil to fuel the port’s pilot boats. 

Delivery came from local supplier, Highland Fuels, which was founded in Inverness in 1957.

HVO is 100 percent sustainably sourced from waste fats and vegetable oils. 

“We currently run two pilot boats, and this will significantly reduce their CO2 emissions that will improve the area’s air quality,” said Port of Inverness CEO Sinclair Browne.

“Two years ago, we announced our ambition to become a net-zero business by 2038, and this change will put us well on the way to achieving this goal,” Browne added.

Dan McDermott, the sales manager at Highland Fuels, said, “We’re dedicated to helping our customers transition to a more sustainable future.”

He added that the introduction of HVO at the Port of Inverness is a key step in its mission to provide low-carbon liquid fuels, offering up to a 90 percent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to standard marine gasoil and road diesel.

“We’re proud to support the Port of Inverness in achieving its net-zero goals,” McDermott said.