Yang Ming’s boxship receives sustainable biofuel in South Korea

July 8, 2024, by Fatima Bahtić

Taiwanese shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation has decided to bunker its 11,000 TEU containership YM Together with sustainable biofuel in South Korea.

As informed, in collaboration with KPI OceanConnect, a marine energy supplier, YM Together, currently serving the Trans-Pacific route PN3, bunkered the B30 HSFO biofuel at Pusan Port, South Korea, on June 26, 2024.

According to Yang Ming, YM Together became the first foreign-flagged vessel in South Korea to bunker biofuel. This initiative aims to implement the company’s sustainable development strategy, achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and provide low-carbon transportation services.

In March this year, Yang Ming revealed that it will adopt sustainable biofuel into its fleet to respond to the 2050 net-zero emissions goal.

The B30 HSFO biofuel is a blend comprising used cooking oil (UCO) made of native plants, which complies with ISO 8217 and meets International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) standards.

This biofuel also meets the green fuel standards of the FuelEU Maritime Initiative, reducing up to 25% of GHG emissions than do conventional marine fuels, according to Yang Ming.

Apart from biofuel, onboard facilities such as scrubbers and shore power systems (AMP) are expected to enable YM Together to cut GHG emissions.

In response to the impact of global climate change, Yang Ming is carrying out various energy-saving measures in its operations to improve the fleet’s energy efficiency.

These measures include retrofitting existing ships for energy efficiency, adopting smart technology to enhance onboard energy monitoring, using weather routing systems to optimize routes and reduce fuel consumption, and fitting vessels with AMP systems for shore power.

In 2023, Yang Ming’s fleet reduced carbon intensity by 61.86% compared to the baseline year of 2008, achieving the IMO’s goal of a 40% reduction by 2030 ahead of time.

In the future, the shipping company plans to continue using ISCC-certified biofuel to cap its total yearly GHG emissions, reduce the pressure of carbon emissions on entire supply chains, and sail towards the net-zero goal of maritime transport.