Solstad enriches its green shipping quest with renewable fuel as biodiesel-powered vessel puts rig’s mooring spread in place

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has embraced another decarbonization tool to expand its zero-emission shipping toolbox by turning to renewable biodiesel (HVO) to bunker an anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel before it embarked on its assignment related to a semi-submersible rig off the coast of Norway.

As part of its strategy to curb its environmental footprint, Solstad has decided to offer certified renewable biodiesel to its clients to decarbonize existing offshore vessels in the transition period towards zero-emission technologies of the future. As a result, the ship owner recently bunkered about 500 m³ of certified renewable biodiesel on the AHTS Normand Prosper in Mandal, Southern Norway.

The 2010-built ship was among the five AHTS vessels Ocean Installer picked last year for a project in West Africa with a minimum of 380 vessel days and anticipated start-up in 4Q 2023. Following Normand Prosper’s latest bunkering, the vessel installed a mooring spread for an undisclosed semi-submersible drilling rig in the Norwegian Sea.

While describing this feat as “a significant step” towards reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the Norwegian vessel player underlines that HVO is a ‘drop-in’ fuel that can be used in existing vessel machinery without costly modifications.  The firm disclosed that Eco-1 Bioenergi is the company behind the renewable biodiesel sourcing, which facilitated the bunkering process in Mandal.

Tor Inge Dale, Sustainability Director at Solstad, commented: “This renewable biodiesel pilot is strategically important for Solstad. It demonstrates our commitment to significantly reducing GHG emissions and reinforces our dedication to sustainable practices within the industry.”

Since the fuel is made from 100% renewable raw materials such as waste and residues and does not use food crops in the production, the company estimates that renewable biodiesel use will reduce GHG emissions by over 90% from well to wake, showcasing a commitment to sustainable practices.

According to Lloyd’s Register, biodiesel’s advantages encompass a lower risk of environmental contamination in the event of a spill than other fuels as it is biodegradable; its compatibility since it is functionally equivalent to petroleum, requiring little or no modification to existing diesel technology; and safe operation since existing safety mitigations for diesel are well established and can be applied to biodiesel.

However, the other side of the coin spotlights some disadvantages of using biodiesel, including feedstock sustainability challenges as large-scale production may require significant amounts of land and water resources, creating sustainability implications. This is linked to feedstock demand since there is competing demand for feedstock from other sectors and conflict over its best use.

There are also uncertainties surrounding its lower energy value, sensitivity to oxidation stability, and affinity to microbial activity and material compatibility, which Lloyd’s Register believes will need to be understood and addressed when biodiesel is stored and used on board ships.

Solstad Offshore’s latest move toward greener shipping comes months after the Norwegian firm pooled resources with Cat Power Solutions, Pon Power, and Caterpillar Marine to step up fuel efficiency across its offshore support vessels (OSVs) and cut its GHG emissions while exploring the deployment of methanol-powered solutions for its ships.

The vessel owner has secured several new assignments recently, including a five-year contract with Prysmian for a subsea construction vessel (CSV) to support the installation of power cable systems.