Glander International Bunkering, a subsidiary of Bunker Holding, and Cepsa are now jointly facilitating the supply of second-generation HVO to cruise line vessels in the Mediterranean.

Cepsa has completed four deliveries of HVO via Glander International Bunkering to a cruise ship at the Port of Barcelona since late June of this year. The second-generation biofuel is made from ISCC EU certified raw materials and can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional fuels throughout their life cycle.

“We are thrilled to partner with Glander International Bunkering in its decarbonisation journey with these second-generation biofuels for the cruise industry. By supplying the wider cruise industry with HVO or biodiesel, we are supporting industry efforts towards more sustainable cruising and reinforcing the Port of Barcelona’s role as a leading hub in the energy transition,” says Samir Fernández, Director of Marine Fuel Solutions at Cepsa.

The combination of Cepsa’s capacity to supply biofuel to the cruise industry on a regular basis at the Spanish ports where it operates and Glander International Bunkering’s vast network of strategic marine customers looking for lower carbon fuel solutions provides a great example of how partnerships like this can enable and facilitate the decarbonisation of the shipping industry.

While Cepsa and Glander International Bunkering have ongoingly been engaging in direct dialogue around the specifics regarding last-mile delivery to cruise ships, Bunker Holding’s Center of Excellence for New Fuels and Carbon Markets has played an instrumental role in growing the partnership.

“Our partnership with Cepsa is a result of our diligent work to form alliances with strong suppliers of low-carbon fuels. As of late, we have been putting concerted effort into developing strategic partnerships with a view to facilitating the decarbonisation of the shipping industry. We are especially seeing an increase in the interest in biofuels and, with around 30 of our offices now being ISCC-certified, we have expanded our biofuels sales and the availability of biofuels to over 120 ports worldwide,” says Valerie Ahrens, Senior Director of News Fuels and Carbon Markets at Bunker Holding.

The demand for lower carbon fuels is on the rise for the shipping industry in general, brought on by IMO CII requirements, the inclusion of shipping in the EU ETS, and FuelEU Maritime entering into force in 2025. In addition, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is turning its attention to ensure that the sector has sufficient access to low carbon fuels in pursuing net zero carbon cruising by 2050.