Swire Shipping launches new ‘Voyage to Zero’ carbon-insetting program

From left, Sutton and Bulitavu. (Photo: Swire Shipping)

Swire Shipping, a leading shipping company in the Asia-Pacific, announced July 14 the launch of Voyage to Zero, a carbon-insetting program that enables freight customers to reduce their scope 3 greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions, leveraging GHG savings from second-generation biofuels used on any Swire Shipping vessel.

The program was officially launched by Mosese Bulitavu, Fiji’s minister of the environment and climate change, at a ceremony aboard the MV Apia Chief in Suva July 11.

Carbon insetting allows companies to reduce their carbon footprint by investing in emissions-reduction or carbon-removal projects within their own value chain or sector.

With Voyage to Zero, freight customers can purchase and claim GHG savings from second-generation biofuel voyages through a book-and-claim chain-of-custody model, even if their cargoes are not transported on the same vessel.

Emissions savings are calculated based on comparisons with reference fossil fuels on an energy-equivalent basis, using independently verified data.

“At Swire Shipping, we are committed to supporting the maritime industry’s journey towards net zero,” said Swire Shipping CEO Jeremy Sutton. “The launch of Voyage to Zero, and transition to biofuel, are important steps in our decarbonization strategy that will allow us to provide greater support to customers looking to reduce their emissions. Though the Pacific Island nations contribute the least to global emissions, they face some of the gravest consequences from climate change. By introducing greener fuels in the South Pacific, we stand united with our Pacific Island partners—sharing in their vision and determination for a resilient, thriving and sustainable future.”

In April, the company announced that three of its vessels serving the South Pacific had made the switch to B24 second-generation biofuel blends.

The three vessels involved are the Apia Chief and Tonga Chief on the Pacific Weekly Express (PWX) service running direct calls from Southeast Asia to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Fiji, and Kokopo Chief on the East Timor (ETS) service, which provides direct service every 10 days between Singapore, Dili, Darwin and Surabaya.

The vessels currently bunker B24 in Singapore enroute to the South Pacific.