Olam Agri and Vitol Bunkers have successfully completed Singapore’s first bunkering of a vessel with very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) co-processed with cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL). The operation demonstrated the potential to use waste as an energy source and reduce greenhouse gas emissions without changing the vessel’s operating conditions.
At the Port of Singapore, the MV Scion Mathilda received 246.5 tonnes of fuel, including 212 tonnes of conventional VLSFO and 34.5 tonnes of CNSL co-processed VLSFO. Vitol Bunkers supplied the fuel, while Olam Agri’s ocean transportation division purchased it.
The fuel was used during a voyage from Caofeidian, China, to Rotterdam, after which the vessel made a ballast voyage from Rotterdam to Barcarena, Brazil. Over the entire route, 1,354 tonnes of VLSFO, 101 tonnes of marine gas oil (MGO), and 34.1 tonnes of co-processed VLSFO were consumed. The voyage was completed without any operational issues, confirming the product’s performance under real-world conditions.
Reducing Emissions Without Retrofitting the Vessel
The greenhouse gas emissions intensity of the co-processed VLSFO was 2.02 grams of CO2 equivalent per megajoule. Compared with an equivalent volume of conventional VLSFO, the savings amounted to at least 120 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. No additional fuel treatment or special onboard procedures were required.
Vitol’s co-processing and mass-balance method addresses the issues that previously prevented the direct blending of CNSL with marine fuel from gaining industry acceptance. Such blending caused challenges related to material compatibility and fuel handling. Processing CNSL within the refinery stream creates a commercially viable pathway for using this feedstock to reduce shipping emissions.
The fuel used complies with the RMG380 VLSFO grade and has the same chemical composition and quality specifications as the conventional product. Therefore, its use does not require additional approvals or special provisions in charter-party agreements.
Potential of the New Feedstock
As requirements for reducing shipping emissions tighten toward 2030, competition from road transport and aviation for sustainable biological feedstocks will intensify. CNSL, a by-product of cashew processing, currently has limited applications but could become a scalable component of marine biofuel.
