Marine fuel provider KPI OceanConnect has performed the successful delivery of 500mt of B30 HSFO 3.5% to Yang Ming Marine Transport’s 11,000 TEU container vessel ‘YM Together’ in Busan, South Korea.
The supply was made in collaboration with Seoul-headquartered bunker supplier GS Caltex Corporation, said to be a pioneer in biofuel delivery in South Korea. Coordination between all teams ensured this successful delivery and the partners are planning to provide biofuel usage data to a public research institute in South Korea, to share practical experiences and encourage further uptake of the fuel.
With the potential to reduce GHG emissions by up to 25%, when compared to conventional fuel oil, the ISCC certified biofuel is helping Yang Ming meet its sustainable development and energy transition goals. Demand for biofuel bunkering is expected to more than double in 2025 due to the emissions reduction pathways offered by biofuels, enabling compliance with tightening environmental regulations in the short-term. This first-of-its-kind commercial delivery in South Korea is a regarded as a signal for biofuel demand in smaller bunkering ports, which will lay the groundwork for more vessel owners to invest in alternative fuels to minimise GHG emissions.
Through continued partnerships, KPI OceanConnect says it is connecting the dots between bunker suppliers and buyers across the world to widen the network of alternative fuel options for the industry. For biofuels specifically, KPI OceanConnect has enabled deliveries in more than 100 ports worldwide, working in collaboration with customers and bunker suppliers to aggregate demand and supply biofuel that meets specific standards.
Jesper Sørensen, Head of Alternative Fuels and Carbon Markets, KPI OceanConnect,said: “We’re proud to work with Yang Ming Marine Transport and GS Caltex Corporation to achieve the first biofuel delivery for a foreign container shipping company in South Korea. This latest project is a testament to our global reach, commitment to increasing deliveries of lower carbon fuels and willingness to go where no one has before. With each delivery, we are sharing knowledge and fostering partnerships to build up the global low-carbon fuel infrastructure and meet growing demand. At a time of increasing global environmental regulations and compliance with Scope 3 emission requirements, the project has demonstrated the importance of a partnership-driven approach to enable alternative fuel uptake. By aggregating demand and connecting bunker suppliers with buyers, we’re uniquely placed to play an active role in enabling the energy transition across the value chain. We take this responsibility seriously and, with global supply of these fuels increasing, we are committed to working with businesses to help them build an alternative fuel strategy that works best for them today and tomorrow.”
Image: ‘YM Together’ has bunkered with biofuel in Busan (source: KPI OceanConnect/Blue Comms)
