In The Netherlands, Offshore Energy reported that he Global Center for Maritime Decarbonization (GCMD) has partnered with Japanese shipping company NYK Line to launch Project LOTUS aimed at testing the long-term impact of continuous use of biofuels on vessel operations.
According to the report, the six-month project will trial the continuous use of a biofuels blend comprising of 24% fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) onboard a short-sea vehicle carrier that will call at multiple ports.
The use of a vessel plying short-sea routes will allow regular access to fuels stored onboard for sampling and testing during frequent port calls, the report added.
Project LOTUS aims to address this knowledge gap by establishing industry guidelines for monitoring engine and equipment performance when using biofuels. Furthermore, the trial also aims to evaluate the total cost of ownership of using biofuels, covering the cost of fuel and additional maintenance costs associated with its use.