Drop-in biofuels have the potential to immediately transform a vessel’s Carbon Intensity Indicator rating regardless of fuel type, with diesel vessels seeing the most significant gains.

That was a key message from Vassilios Kroustallis, ABS Senior Vice President, Global Business Development to a meeting of marine industry leaders in Cyprus. In a wide-ranging presentation on ABS’ latest decarbonization thinking, he outlined new research showing how a blend of biofuels could improve a vessel’s CII performance regardless of whether it was diesel, methanol or LNG-fueled.

A heavy fuel oil propelled vessel could see its rating improved from D to A in 2023 with the addition of a 30 percent blend of biodiesel. Bio-methanol added at 30 percent would move a C-rated methanol-fueled vessel to an A rating today, and bio-methane at 30 percent would push an LNG-fueled vessel from a B rating to an A rating.

“Drop-in biofuels are a powerful new tool for shipowners and operators to accelerate fleet decarbonization and improve their CII trajectory today. ABS is involved in pilot projects on the application of biofuels that have shown us the huge potential of these fuels to contribute to reducing a vessel’s tank-to-wake carbon intensity and transform its rating. The cost of biofuels is confined to the fuel itself rather than in any associated technology or equipment and so biofuels represent a compelling option once supply and regulatory questions are addressed,” said Kroustallis.