Color Line Switches to Biofuels to Slash Emissions by 85%

by Craig Eason (Trade Winds News) Ropax operator switches two of five vessels to locally sourced low-emission fuels -- Norwegian ropax operator Color Line has spent the past month fuelling two of the company’s high-speed ferries with locally produced biofuel.

The Oslo-listed shipping company has a fleet of ferries operating between Norway and mainland Europe. Two of its vessels, SuperSpeed 1 and SuperSpeed 2, operate exclusively between the north of Denmark and southern Norway.

With its ship operations fully included in the European emission trading scheme, the company has fuelled the two high-speed vessels with biofuel supplied by Danish bunker supplier Bunker One. READ MORE

Excerpt from Bunker One: For almost one month, Bunker One has supplied B100 biofuel to Color Line’s SuperSpeed 1 and 2 ferries travelling between Hirtshals in Denmark and Larvik and Kristiansand in Norway. With this switch to biofuel, Color Line’s two passenger ferries have reduced CO2 emissions by approximately 85% on average on the biofuel quantities used.

The numerous benefits of the B100 biofuel, such as CO2 emissions reduction, energy efficiency, and no required modifications to vessel engines, have been the primary motivation behind Color Line’s piloting of low-carbon biofuel. Equipped with technical expertise and extensive know-how on lower carbon fuels, compliance, and the regulatory landscape for shipping, Bunker One managed to find the best solution that accommodated Color Line’s needs.

With the EU ETS that took effect as of 1st January and the FuelEU Maritime just under a year away, Bunker One has been preparing for the expected boost in demand for lower carbon fuels, such as biofuel. Bunker One’s team of specialists has been running numerous laboratory tests and provided technical guidance in connection with biofuel trial runs with clients, making Bunker One an adept supplier and logistics partner.

“We are delighted with the results from our collaboration with Bunker One, who has been a longstanding business partner to Color Line. We have drawn on their ability and technical expertise, and they have been instrumental in catering to our specific needs and thus ensuring a seamless and effective delivery,” says Per Erik Olsen, EVP Marine & Technical in Color Line.

Through close collaboration and succeeding technical meetings, Color Line and Bunker One developed a detailed delivery and operations plan.

“Our collaboration with Color Line on the supply of biofuel is a prime example of what we do best, which is tailoring solutions to the individual needs of our clients. We ensured that the timely deliveries to Color Line’s two passenger ferries were orchestrated with great attention to detail and coordination between all parties involved to match the short port stays of the ferries. And it is this quick transition that highlights the value of a close partnership between Color Line and Bunker One,” says Peter Zachariassen, CEO of Bunker One.

Locally sourced biofuel impacts well-to-wake emissions. Aware of the importance of reducing CO2 emissions from well to wake, Bunker One and Color Line agreed to source the high-quality B100 biofuel used in Color Line’s SuperSpeed 1 and 2 ferries from Danish DAKA ecoMotion.

The FAME-grade/RED II-compliant B100 biofuel is produced locally in Denmark from organic waste. According to DAKA ecoMotion, switching from fossil fuels to B100 biofuel can reduce GHG emissions by around 85% compared to the transport diesel default value of 94gCO2eq/MJ.

Navigating current and upcoming regulations The demand for lower carbon fuels is on the rise, brought on by the entering into force of the IMO CII, the recent adoption of the Fuel EU Maritime regulation, and the inclusion of shipping in the EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime entering into force in 2025. Hence, Bunker One’s role has transcended from being a physical supplier to now also incorporating the provision of expert advice on how Bunker One’s clients can best ensure they adhere to current and upcoming regulations.

“By utilising cross-organisational synergies and teaming up with our sister company Global Risk Management, we can provide our clients with the necessary consultancy on EU ETS and advice on how they can best meet their policy targets, providing them with a type of one-stop-shop solution. For some time now we have been helping many of our customers to prepare for the EU ETS and the purchase of EUAs in a way that best fits their individual operating models,” says Peter Zachariassen.

About Color Line Color Line AS is Norway's largest and one of Europe's leading cruise and transport companies, annually carrying almost 4 million people, 900,000 passenger cars and 180,000 freight units to and from Norway. The company operates a fleet of five ships serving four international ferry routes between seven ports in Norway, Germany, Denmark and Sweden. Learn more: colorline.com

About Bunker One Bunker One serves local expertise and global coverage with nearly 200 experts across offices in 23 locations worldwide. Bunker One possesses capabilities and knowledge within lower carbon fuels and is ISCC-certified, making Bunker One able to supply fuel meeting the sustainability criteria laid down by the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive. READ MORE