CSL biofuel program makes a comeback

Canadian shipping company Canada Steam Ship Lines (CSL) has teamed up with compatriot fuel provider Canada Clean Fuels to power eight of its ships with North American-sourced B100 biodiesel.

The vessels in question are Seawaymax self-unloading bulk carriers CSL Laurentien, Baie Comeau, Rt. Hon Paul J. Martin, Spruceglen, CSL St-Laurent, CSL Assiniboine, CSL Welland, and Whitefish Bay.

Since 2019, the Canadian company has been testing the effectiveness of biofuel in decarbonizing marine transportation, with the potential to reduce over 80% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from well to wake.

Derived from waste plant material, biofuel is a drop-in fuel option for vessels, requiring no retrofitting or significant modifications to ships or infrastructure.

According to Canada Steam Ship Lines, biofuel is one way the company can contribute to sustainable shipping and a greener future for all.

In December last year, the company reported a significant milestone in its Great Lakes biofuel program as it completed a cumulative 75,000 running hours on B100 biofuel during a four-year period.

CSL ships made significant strides in supporting decarbonization efforts by replacing 55,000 metric tonnes of fossil fuel with biodiesel and avoiding 156,000 metric tonnes of CO2.

The shipping firm initiated its biofuel journey in 2019 with a B50 blend, gradually progressing to B80 and, in 2020, running two ships on B100 – pure biodiesel produced entirely from waste plant material unrelated to food production.