CMA CGM Concludes Biofuel Tests with IKEA, GoodShipping

French container shipping major CMA CGM, the GoodShipping Program and IKEA Transport & Logistics Services have successfully completed their 2019 biofuel test program on CMA CGM vessels.

The completion follows positive trials of heavy fuel oil (HFO) equivalent (HFO) biofuel oil (BFO) during CMA CGM Alexander von Humboldt’s North Europe-Asia trip, which occurred in September and October 2019.

This latest development follows the world premiere refueling of a containership with sustainable biofuel, when the CMA CGM White Shark took on the bunker during a call at the Port of Rotterdam in March 2019.

Under the trial, sustainable BFO was used in a blend with conventional fossil-based marine fuels to power a vessel on a major oceangoing route. Both applications of the BFO showed a positive result, thus proving the technical compatibility of sustainable marine biofuels.

“These developments demonstrate the viability of advanced biofuels to meet current and future environmental regulations and emissions reductions targets, delivering a more sustainable shipping industry,” CMA CGM, GoodShipping Program and IKEA said in a joint statement.

“(W)e are resolutely committed to environmental protection and the energy transition…These landmark trials give the maritime sector a vital demonstration into the scalability, sustainability and technical compliance of marine biofuel oil,” Xavier Leclercq, Vice President – CMA Ships, CMA CGM Group, commented.

The BFO trialed by CMA CGM across both vessels was supplied by GoodFuels and is said to be the first-ever HFO-equivalent biofuel. All GoodFuels sustainable marine fuels are virtually SOx free and deliver 80-90% well-to-propeller CO2 reduction versus fossil equivalents.

The announcement comes at a time when the industry is under increasing scrutiny to improve its sustainability and move towards decarbonization. With scalability, BFO future-proofs requirements for shipowners and operators to comply with future regulations on carbon reduction by 2030 and 2050.

The trials were achieved through IKEA Transport & Logistics Services’ participation in the GoodShipping Program, the world’s first decarbonization initiative for cargo owners.

“It is only through collaboration and partnerships between major players – including cargo owners, ship operators and solution providers – that we can achieve real change at fast pace,” Elisabeth Munck af Rosenschöld, Head of Sustainability, IKEA Global Transport & Logistics Services, pointed out.

“We need a diversified portfolio of solutions to achieve our ambitious emissions reduction targets – and marine biofuels are an important part of the puzzle going forward for our sector.”

The GoodShipping Program works on the premise that, as all CO2 from shipping is emitted into the same atmosphere, the means of mitigating these emissions is equally impactful, regardless of which vessels adopt biofuels over traditional bunker fuels – or the amount of ‘drop in’ biofuel that is added to the fuel tank, as long as it offsets the CO2 costs of transporting participating shippers’ cargo.

As explained, this flexible approach provides far greater scope for immediate impact while having the same net effect in averting the effects of climate change.

“The success of this test programme with IKEA and CMA CGM builds further evidence of the important role that biofuel oil will play in the marine fuel mix, and proves that initiatives already exist on the market for cargo owners to realise their decarbonisation goals,” Dirk Kronemeijer, CEO of The GoodShipping Program, concluded.