TAIWAN's shipping company Wan Hai Lines has decided to adopt biofuel use across its fleet to meet the 2030 and 2050 emission targets set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The firm's WAN HAI 510 (also known as Tai Chun), a 4,333 TEU containership, will be the first vessel to adopt biofuel. The ship is currently operating on the CI6 route across the Far East and India.

In collaboration with fuel supplier KPI OceanConnect, the vessel replenished with B24 biofuel in Singapore, according to Rotterdam's Offshore Energy.

The biofuel, certified by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC), is a blend of used cooking oil methyl ester biodiesel (UCOME) and very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO).

Wan Hai Lines expects that, by using this biofuel, it will reduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent compared to traditional VLSFO.

"The adoption of biofuel is a crucial step in our journey towards carbon reduction. We have a responsibility to seek more environmentally friendly solutions and further achieve the goal of ESG energy-saving and carbon reduction by using low-carbon fuels across our fleet," Wan Hai Lines stated.

The use of biofuel represents Wan Hai Lines' proactive efforts to reduce carbon emissions and underscores the company's firm commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development.

In the future, the Taiwanese shipowner plans to adopt more energy efficiency and carbon reduction initiatives.

Recently, Wan Hai Lines placed an order for four methanol dual-fuel containerships at HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, a subsidiary of South Korean shipbuilding giant HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE). The 8,700 TEU vessels are slated for delivery by May 2027.

https://www.shippingazette.com/news?news_id=9241000000214