Singapore-based Swire Shipping has announced that three of its vessels have begun using second-generation biofuel blends, starting with B24 and transitioning to B30.

IMAGE: Swire Shipping’s cargo vessel, Tonga Chief. Swire Shipping

Second-generation biofuels are typically produced from non-food biomass sources like agricultural waste, wood, or algae.

The three vessels involved in Swire Shipping’s biofuel programme are Apia Chief and Tonga Chief, which operate between Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands - including Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Fiji - and Kokopo Chief, which sails between Singapore, Dili, Darwin and Surabaya.

All three ships will refuel with B24 biofuel blend in Singapore en route to the South Pacific, with plans to transition to B30 later.

In August 2024, Swire Shipping successfully carried out a B24 trial using second-generation biofuel.

The company has now partnered with global oil company BP for securing biofuel supply in Singapore. However, it has not disclosed details about the volume of the biofuel blend.

This project also involves its sister company, Argent Energy, a producer of waste-based biofuels.

By Tuhin Roy

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