- To commence on September 15th with the operation of a container vessel on the Busan
– Brazil route
-Future plans to establish bio marine fuel quality standards

 The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (Minister Cho Seung Hwan) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (Minister Lee Chang Yang) announced plans to start pilot operation of international container vessels powered by bio marine fuel* from September 15th until H1 2024.

 * Bio Marine Fuel (Biodiesel for ships, bio-heavy fuel oil for ships) refers to eco-friendly fuel for vessels based on animal and plant oils that reduces carbon emissions by more than 65% when compared to conventional fossil fuel-based marine fuel

 HMM’s container vessel Hyundai Tacoma will be the first pilot vessel to run on marine fuel, with plans to depart from Busan on September 15th at 20:00 bound for Paranagua, Brazil. The marine fuel will be a hybrid of conventional marine fuel with 30% biodiesel for ships supplied by GS Caltex. Until H1 2024, more than 5 pilot operations are planned by using marine fuel hybrids with biodiesel or bio heavy fuel oil for vessels.

 The series of pilot operations are part of the follow-up actions derived from the ‘Biofuel Demonstration Plan,’ which was finalized at the third plenary meeting of the private-public Alliance for the Promotion of Eco-friendly Bio Fuel, held on June 28th (Wednesday). The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Korea Petroleum Quality & Distribution Authority, Korea Bioenergy Association, KGETS, Sinokor Merchant Marine, and HD Hyundai Global Service held multiple meetings to decide on the container vessels and operation routes for the pilot operation of bio marine fuel as well as to establish the necessary bio marine fuel refueling and fleet operation procedures.