Olam Agri and Vitol Bunkers have completed a bio-bunkering operation in Singapore involving VLSFO co-processed with cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL), according to Ship & Bunker.
According to Ship & Bunker, the vessel Scion Mathilda was supplied with a total of 246.5 mt of fuel, consisting of 212 mt of conventional VLSFO and 34.5 mt of co-processed CNSL VLSFO. The fuel was procured by Olam Agri’s ocean freight business and supplied by Vitol Bunkers, Olam Agri said in an emailed statement reported by Ship & Bunker.
Voyage and Fuel Performance
The co-processed fuel was consumed during the vessel’s voyage from Caofeidian, China, to Rotterdam, followed by a ballast voyage to Barcarena, Brazil, Ship & Bunker reported. Of the 34.5 mt of co-processed CNSL VLSFO supplied, 34.1 mt was consumed without any operational issues, according to the companies cited by Ship & Bunker.
The co-processed fuel carried a GHG intensity of 2.02 gCO2eq/MJ and delivered at least 120 tonnes of CO2 equivalent savings compared with conventional VLSFO, Ship & Bunker reported.
How Co-Processing Differs From Conventional Biofuels
Co-processed fuels are produced by integrating renewable feedstocks into existing refinery processes alongside fossil fuels, as opposed to conventional biofuels, which are typically produced from organic feedstocks in dedicated biorefineries, according to Ship & Bunker. This means the resulting fuel can be used as a drop-in product in existing vessels without modification, while retaining the chemical characteristics required for conventional marine fuel.
Ship & Bunker reported that the co-processed fuel used in this trial met the RMG 380 VLSFO grade and required no additional onboard handling or fuel treatment. CNSL, a by-product of cashew processing, was incorporated using a co-processing and mass-balance approach that Vitol said avoids the handling and compatibility issues associated with direct blending.
“The mass balance solution we have developed opens up a genuinely new avenue for GHG reduction in marine fuels,” Sherman Yeo, Trading Manager of Vitol Bunkers, told Ship & Bunker.
Does This Matter to You?
This development may be relevant for those tracking the availability and performance of alternative marine fuel pathways in major bunkering hubs such as Singapore. The trial demonstrates that a co-processed VLSFO blend can be supplied and consumed as a drop-in fuel without operational issues or the need for onboard modifications, according to the source material.
For those monitoring emissions reduction options ahead of tightening regulatory requirements, the reported GHG intensity figure and associated CO2 equivalent savings provide a concrete data point from an operational voyage rather than a laboratory setting. Beyond these specifics, the source material does not provide further detail on broader market availability or pricing, so the wider commercial impact remains unclear at this stage.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
