Blue Water Switches to Renewable Diesel for Port Activities in Denmark

(Blue Water Shipping/Biobased Diesel Daily) Blue Water Shipping announced July 10 that it is taking a new step in its efforts to reduce the company’s CO2 emissions by introducing hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), also known as renewable diesel, for port activities in Esbjerg, Aarhus and Lindø, Denmark.

The switch to HVO will reduce emissions by up to 90 percent compared to traditional diesel fuel.

This corresponds to an annual saving of approximately 1,575 metric tons of CO2 from Blue Water’s total direct emissions, according to 2024 figures.

The initiative covers close to 600,000 liters (158,503 gallons) of diesel per year for equipment such as forklift trucks, reach stackers and terminal tractors used in daily operations to lift heavy items such as components for the wind-turbine industry at port facilities.

“We see a market advantage in the availability of HVO, which enables us to take a significant step towards more sustainable port operations,” said Blue Water CEO Søren N. Thomsen. “It is a strong example of how we translate ambitions into action. This investment reduces our environmental footprint and strengthens our position as a responsible and forward-looking logistics partner.”

The first fueling with HVO became a reality July 10 at the Port of Esbjerg, where the team from Blue Water, which has been working on this initiative for a long time, was present together with representatives from involved partners.

“We have had a strong partnership with Blue Water for many years, and we are delighted that it is now also making a concrete contribution to reducing CO2 in Esbjerg,” said Karen Sandrini, the port’s ESG and sustainability manager. “It is important that we work together across companies and functions to bring about real change.”

According to Blue Water, the Port of Esbjerg already has a strong focus on sustainability and is constantly working to reduce its climate footprint with the ambition of becoming a climate-neutral port.

This includes the establishment of a shore-power facility that ensures that the majority of the port’s visiting vessels can turn off their generators and use wind energy instead.

Blue Water is the largest player in Esbjerg’s onshore port activities, and there has therefore been strong support for the HVO phase-in all the way.

In 2023, Blue Water committed to the international Science Based Targets initiative with a goal of reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42 percent by 2030.

With the implementation of HVO, Blue Water has the potential to reduce emissions by 37.8 percent annually based on the CO2 accounts for 2024, bringing it a major step closer to the goal.

“The future of the company’s use of HVO depends largely on market availability, which fortunately has improved significantly this year,” Thomsen said. “Interest in more responsible fuels is growing, and so is supply. We naturally hope to expand the use of HVO to other parts of the business. For us, it’s about acting when opportunities arise.”

The implementation in Esbjerg, Aarhus and Lindø marks not only a step forward in terms of climate, according to Blue Water, but also a strategic investment in making the shipping company an even stronger and more responsible logistics partner in the future. READ MORE