- New Whitepaper Guides Safe Marine Biofuel Use.
- Wallem Highlights Biofuel Challenges and Solutions.
- Wallem Calls for Crew Training and Digital Fuel Monitoring.
Wallem Group has posted a whitepaper called ‘Marine Biofuels: Adoption, use and best practice’ with prescribed procedures on safely operating biofuels in day-to-day ship, system, and crew operations, reports Wallem.
Cautious Decarbonization
The fuels remain biofuels due to the identification of fundamental emissions reduction challenges, highlighting biofuels’ importance when other options (e.g., hydrogen or e-methanol) are not available. Still, it underscores that biofuels’ calorific values and operational capabilities are lower than fossil fuels.
“Biofuels also present adoption challenges that require close attention from procurement, technical and vessel operating personnel,” said Abhijit Ghosh, Head of Maritime Technology and Innovation, Wallem Group.
Main Threats and Suggestions
The report discusses regulations, probable compliance with IMO, fuel type concerns, and impacts on tanks, systems, and crew. Discussed risks such as inadequate blending, microbial activity, and clogging and suggested:
- Scraping and washing tanks
- Choice and classification of segregating materials
- Certain temperature maintenance
- Increased insurance risk coverage
Wallem suggests installing corrosion-resistant coatings and hardened fuel pumps into the engines for long-term usage.
Training and Digital Monitoring
The whitepaper also calls out training gaps and emphasises the importance of real-time fuel tracking. “The combination of a centralised digital system for real-time tracking and analysis of biofuel consumption and a skilled and well-trained crew can be transformative for enabling the future-ready maritime fleet,” said Ghosh.
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Source: Wallem
