NYK Partners with GCMD for Biofuel Trial on Large Vessels

A six-month trial is underway to study the long-term continuous use of biofuels on large vessels, with Japan’s NYK partnering with the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonization. While biofuels have been proven compatible with existing engines and bunkering infrastructure, data on their long-term and continuous use is limited. Sales of biofuels have increased in recent years, but they still only represent a small percentage of total bunker sales in key hubs.

Project LOTUS will trial a biofuels blend on a short-sea vehicle carrier, monitoring for challenges such as corrosion and fuel degradation. The pilot aims to establish industry guidelines for monitoring engines and equipment when using biofuels and recommend mitigation strategies for potential issues. NYK will provide the vessel, VPS will handle the fuel, and GCMD will organize the testing and publish the results.

The trial will assess the cost and impact of long-term biofuel use, including maintenance requirements and total cost of ownership. It will also explore potential challenges such as corrosion and valve failures, providing valuable insights for the shipping industry’s adoption of biofuels.

Source .