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HMM expands green sailing service with marine biofuel consisting of 30% biodiesel and 70% high-sulfur fuel oil
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HMM Tacoma was refueled with the biofuel blend during its bunkering at the Port of Busan
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The marine biofuel by GS Caltex can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 24% compared to conventional fuels
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The South Korean shipping firm plans to widen the use of biofuel to 5-10% of annual fuel consumption
HMM (formerly Hyundai Merchant Marine) is expanding its green sailing service with marine biofuel as it announced the trial use of sustainable marine biofuel on its 6,400 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containership HMM Tacoma calling in Busan, South Korea.
HMM Tacoma, operated in FIL (Far East-India-Latin America) service, was refueled with the biofuel blend during its bunkering at the Port of Busan, the company said in a statement.
The marine biofuel, supplied by GS Caltex, consists of 30% biodiesel derived from used cooking oil and 70% high-sulfur fuel oil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 24% compared to conventional fuels.
Biofuel has the distinction of being compatible with current ship engines without technological modification.
HMM plans to gradually widen biofuel use, reaching about 5-10% of annual fuel consumption.
The South Korean container and shipping company said it “remains committed to heavily investing in the pathway to carbon neutrality, including the introduction of clean alternative energies,” despite the higher cost of biofuel.
In April, HMM signed a memorandum of understanding with GS Caltex to secure marine biofuels.
An HMM official said: “We continue to find a way to go green, making meaningful progress toward a carbon-free future. To this end, we will seek to enhance our environmental competence and thereby be positioned as a top-rated carrier in responding to climate issues.”
Meanwhile, HMM has made efforts to extend its reach to the environmental field.
In 2021, HMM completed the first test voyage using biofuel on its 13,100 TEU containership HMM Dream and used a 20% biofuel blend at the time based on very low-sulfur fuel oil.
In February, HMM signed new building contracts for nine 9,000 TEU methanol-powered vessels and, in April, reinforced the partnership with LOTTE Fine Chemical to explore feasible solutions to the ammonia supply chain.
The South Korean company is also preparing operational tests of an onboard carbon capture system for its containership.
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