Meriaura picks Auramarine fuel supply systems for two biofuel-powered newbuilds

Finnish fuel supply systems provider Auramarine has been selected by compatriot shipping company Meriaura to provide two shipsets of diesel fuel oil (DFO) and liquid biofuel (LBO) supply systems.

As informed, the Auramarine fuel supply systems will be used onboard two Meriaura cargo ships to be built by the Dutch shipyard Royal Bodewes.

The systems will be manufactured at Auramarine’s Shanghai factory with deliveries to the shipyard in May 2025 and March 2026. The fuel supply systems will supply fuel oil to the engine and help ensure the fuel meets the set temperature and viscosity requirements, the company said.

In mid-April 2024, Meriaura ordered the two biofuel-powered Ecotrader cargo ships. Featuring a length of 105 meters, the 1A ice-classed vessels are designed to achieve ‘the lowest possible’ emission levels.

This makes them approximately 30 percent larger than the earlier EcoCoaster vessels (Eeva VG and Mirva VG), improves the economic efficiency and lightens the environmental burden of transport.

Like the EcoCoaster vessels delivered in 2016, the Ecotraders can be operated with biofuel made from recycled raw material produced by Meriaura’s subsidiary VG-Ecofuel.

As explained, Auramarine’s fuel supply systems are designed for different types of biofuels in mind. This enables owners and operators to manage the health of the vessel when handling fuel temperature and viscosity, which is essential to avoid costly damage, unplanned downtime and associated safety issues.

“We’re proud of our long-standing partnership with industry leaders like Meriaura. Through close collaboration with shipowners as well as shipyards, we’re able to develop tailored and reliable solutions that ensure effective fuel management and ongoing safety,” John Bergman, CEO of Auramarine, commented.

“As shipping navigates a multifuel future, quality is key. This means that fit for purpose systems are key to giving shipowners the confidence to make long-term investments in the operational integrity of their vessels.”

“Meriaura has set an ambitious goal to reach carbon neutrality within the 2030s. Instead of adopting a “wait-and-see” approach to potential future alternative fuel solutions, we have proactively developed our own biofuel and invested in technology that enables its use on our vessels,” Beppe Rosin, CEO of Meriaura, pointed out.