Wallem Group publishes best-practice guidance for marine biofuels

Image: Wallem Group

Wallem Group announced May 20 that it has published a new whitepaper to ensure ships, ships systems and crews are fully prepared to load, store and use biofuels in everyday vessel operations.

“Marine Biofuels: Adoption, Use and Best Practice” recognizes the contribution that biofuels can make to maritime decarbonization while also offering comprehensive guidance on the precautions owners and crew need to consider before and during use.

Biofuels have established a market position among owners seeking to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions at a time when alternatives such as renewable fuel of nonbiological origin (RFNBO), zero-carbon hydrogen, ammonia or eMethanol remain unavailable, Wallem Group stated.

Permissible biofuel well-to-wake emissions intensity has been defined by the International Maritime Organization as at least 65 percent of marine gasoil (MGO).

With a lower calorific value than fossil fuels, however, biofuels also present adoption challenges that require close attention from procurement, technical and vessel-operating personnel, noted Abhijit Ghosh, Wallem Group’s head of maritime technology and innovation for ship management.

The whitepaper examines the regulatory landscape surrounding marine biofuels and the specifics of IMO compliance, in addition to the transparency needed to use fuels that vary batch to batch.

It explains how these blends of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) and residual or distillate fuels impact storage tanks, fuel systems, machinery and crew training, also reflecting on the need for additional insurance coverage.

Based on experience, Wallem has particular recommendations for owners on the assurances they need from equipment suppliers before introducing biofuels.

It also explores the consequences for biofuel users of improper blending, acidity, biodegradation and microbial growth, fouling, waxing and clogging.

The publication provides best-practice recommendations for testing, materials selection, segregation, temperature control, tank cleaning and fuel-line flushing.

For long-term biofuel use, Wallem recommends that engines be retrofitted with hardened fuel pumps and corrosion-resistant coatings.

The whitepaper also considers crew-training gaps and offers recommendations for monitoring, measuring and checking biofuel use to ensure that personnel, systems and the ship remain safe.

“The combination of a centralized digital system for real-time tracking and analysis of biofuel consumption and a skilled and well-trained crew can be transformative for enabling the future-ready maritime fleet,” Ghosh said.