Bureau Veritas Issues New “BIOFUEL READY” Notation

(Bureau Veritas) Bureau Veritas (BV), a world leader in testing, inspection and certification, has released a new “BIOFUEL READY” notation to support the wider deployment of biofuels in the shipping industry. This notation will help the maritime industry address the main challenges related to the use of biofuels by ships, providing requirements to ensure ship safety and environmental compliance.

The notation aims at helping shipowners to be prepared for the use of biofuels or biofuel blends. It provides a set of requirements, and outlines a comprehensive methodology for the required documentation and testing, taking into account the fuel’s technical specifications. The BIOFUEL READY notation certifies that the conditions to use biofuel onboard a ship have been successfully met – and any testing to check NOx emissions (if applicable) has been completed satisfactorily. The notation can be applied to both new and existing ships.

Bureau Veritas expects that this new notation will enable shipowners to take advantage of their preliminary work with the use of biofuels, while also helping them to be prepared in order to obtain Flag Administration acceptance with regards to MARPOL Annex VI requirements on NOx emissions.

"As one of the few fuel options available today to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing fleets, the use of biofuels by the shipping industry is growing rapidly. I am proud that we can now help shipowners deploy these innovative fuels on their vessels, while ensuring that all safety and regulatory requirements are met. This new notation is an important addition to the existing toolbox on the road to the IMO’s 2030 and 2050 GHG and carbon reduction targets. It is also an example of our continued committment to supporting our clients on their decarbonization journey, by providing the independent expertise and validation that helps the industry safely progress innovative solutions." -- Laurent LeBlanc

This new BV notation was developed in collaboration with different maritime stakeholders, including ship owners and engine manufacturers, building on BV’s expertise across the value chain. BIOFUEL READY is the latest example of how Bureau Veritas is helping the industry address the challenges of sustainability and the energy transition by providing rules and guidelines to meet the safety, risk and performance requirements for innovation in future fuels and propulsion systems.

This comes shortly after the latest meeting of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 78) has approved an interpretation of regulation 18.3 of MARPOL Annex VI aimed at clarifying and streamlining the use of biofuels in the maritime industry. This interpretation has now been included in a further revision of MEPC.1/Circ.795 (i.e. MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.6), which has been recently published by the IMO.

About Bureau Veritas
Bureau Veritas is a world leader in laboratory testing, inspection and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has more than 80,000 employees located in more than 1,600 offices and laboratories around the globe. Bureau Veritas helps its clients improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions, in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.

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Excerpt from Riviera: Skuld tells clients to always obtain exemptions for use and NOx emissions rulings from class or flag state authorities on biofuels --

The Norwegian marine insurer said it is receiving an influx of technical enquiries both on P&I and Hull insurance, related to the use of marine biofuel across the different grades available in the market.

The questions regard using biofuels either as an alternative fuel or in testing fuels for future use in main engines, according to the club.

"The major issue we want to highlight is the requirement under Marpol regulation 18.3.2.2 which states: a fuel oil for combustion purposes derived by methods other than petroleum refining shall not cause an engine to exceed the applicable NOx emissions limit set forth in paragraphs 3,4,5.11 and 7.4 of regulation 13," Skuld said.

Skuld told its members and clients who are now using, or intending to use biofuels to "always obtain confirmation from their classification society or flag state for an exemption" for the use of biofuels as well as a formal ruling from the flag state on the fuels’ NOx emissions under the NOx Technical Code 2008 regulations.

"Also, if the vessel has an existing flag state approval for the use of restricted biofuel blends, to obtain confirmation that a higher ratio of biofuels may be used without the need for further NOx emissions trials," the P&I club cautioned. READ MORE