Rotterdam-Singapore green corridor conducts pilot liquefied bio-methane bunkering

Partners in the Rotterdam-Singapore Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC) initiative have concluded a pilot for the bunkering of mass-balanced liquefied bio-methane (LBM), supporting the adoption of near-zero emission fuels along one of the world’s busiest shipping trade routes.

The pilot took place at the Port of Rotterdam on October 19, 2024, when a total of 100 tonnes of mass-balanced LBM was supplied by energy major Shell to CMA CGM Tivoli, an LNG-powered containership owned by French shipping giant CMA CGM.

As explained, the LBM used in the pilot was produced from waste-based feedstock, providing a lower-emission alternative to conventional marine fuels, and Shell issued a Proof of Sustainability certificate verifying that the LBM fuel supplied complies with regulations by the European Union. The certificate will undergo auditing by third-parties accredited by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification-European Union (ISCC-EU).

On November 28, 2024, the Port of Rotterdam and Singapore shared key learning from this pilot bunkering operation, including the application of the mass balance methodology to track the movement of the LBM through the supply chain and ensure compliance with ISCC-EU certification standards, Renewable Energy Directive II, and FuelEU Maritime regulations.

According to the port, this end-to-end certification and tracking supports the development of methodologies that will need to be consistent with the accounting framework adopted by countries under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

This test will also provide CMA CGM with the opportunity to ensure that mass-balanced LBM is properly recognized by the authorities concerning the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) regulation.

A similar LBM bunkering pilot with full sustainability certification is planned at the Port of Singapore.

To remind, the Port of Rotterdam and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) launched the Rotterdam-Singapore GDSC initiative in 2022 to accelerate maritime decarbonization and digitalization and foster collaboration among global ports and stakeholders.

To-date, the GDSC initiative has brought together 28 global value-chain partners across shipping lines, fuel suppliers, port authorities and operators, industry coalitions, banks, institutes of higher learning, and knowledge partners.

The focus is on tackling challenges stemming from the introduction of alternative fuels into the fuel mix such as biofuels, biogases, methane, hydrogen, and hydrogen-based fuels including ammonia and methanol which are in various stages of research and development.

The bio-methane working group, led by SEA-LNG, is one of the working groups established to encourage the uptake of zero- and near-zero emission fuels. Other working groups are also exploring pathways for alternative fuels such as methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen.