Whitaker vessel becomes 1st bunker tanker certified to load, carry, blend FAME B100 onboard

Photo: Lloyd's Register

In what is believed to be an industry first, U.K.-based bunker operator John H. Whitaker (Tankers) Ltd. has secured chemical certification from Lloyd’s Register on behalf of the Isle of Man Flag Administration for its tanker Whitchampion to load, carry and blend 100 percent biodiesel (fatty acid methyl esters or FAME B100) onboard under International Bulk Chemical Code and MARPOL Annex II regulations.

The certification allows Whitchampion to perform onboard blending of biofuels with petroleum distillates and residual fuel oils.

The operation is authorized within U.K. coastal waters under a Tri-Partite Agreement between the Isle of Man Flag and the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

A second Whitaker tanker, Whitchallenger, will be undergoing a similar approval process and is expected to be certified later this year.

At present, bunker tankers certified under MARPOL Annex I are limited to carrying blends no more than 30 percent FAME under International Maritime Organization regulations.

Fuel oil with higher bio content falls under IBC Code and MARPOL Annex II, typically requiring full chemical-tanker status.

That regulation has, in effect, frozen out a significant portion of the conventional bunker-tanker fleet from supporting mid- to high-range biofuel blending.

Whitaker’s Whitchampion is the first Lloyd’s Register-classed vessel to bridge that gap.

Through comprehensive gap analysis and risk assessment against the IBC Code and MARPOL Annex II requirements, LR developed an approach that involved mitigation of the assessed risks.

This led to obtaining waivers/exemptions from the flag administration allowing this Annex I bunker tanker to gain chemical certification to carry FAME as cargo, without needing to convert to full chemical-tanker status.

The successful delivery of dedicated onboard training on the safe handling of FAME has also led to UKMCA approval and a FAME restricted endorsement to the existing oil tanker dangerous cargo endorsement (DCE) for the crew.

“This certification demonstrates a credible and commercially viable route for existing bunker tankers to participate in the energy transition,” said Tim Wilson, a principal fuels and emissions specialist for Lloyd’s Register. “It sets a clear blueprint for others to follow, enabling owners to consider the possibility of adapting existing bunker tankers for sustainable-fuel delivery without resorting to prohibitively expensive conversions or replacement with a chemical tanker.”

Jawwad Minhas, the lead specialist for chemical certification at Lloyd’s Register’s environmental team, added, “Our method of conducting gap analysis and risk assessment, followed by implementing mitigation strategies including the use of waivers and exemptions while ensuring safety and environmental compliance, is an effective and practical approach to obtaining certification for bunker vessels. This approach provides confidence and flexibility to all parties involved as the maritime industry undergoes energy transition.”

Peter Howard, Whitaker Tankers’ technical director, said, “This certification is the result of focused determination from all involved and underlines Whitaker’s commitment to providing clients with the flexibility they need to meet their decarbonization goals. We’re proud to lead the way in this space with Whitchampion and look forward to progressing a similar certification with Lloyd’s Register for her sister ship Whitchallenger later this year.”