BHP and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) have successfully launched a real-world trial of a multi-feedstock B100 bio-blend, combining used cooking oil with waste animal fats, aboard a commercial bulk carrier. By utilizing existing infrastructure to slash voyage emissions by up to 79%, this milestone pilot establishes a practical framework to bypass impending global UCOME supply limits and expand the marine biofuel supply chain.
Singapore | June 3, 2026 – In a significant operational breakthrough for the maritime decarbonization sector, mining giant BHP and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) have successfully trialed a multi-feedstock B100 bio-blend under real-world operating conditions.
The trial involved blending unesterified marine biofuels from two distinct waste streams, used cooking oil methyl ester (UCOME) and waste animal fats (tallow), introducing the unblended 100% bio-product directly into an existing commercial bunkering supply chain.
The pilot was executed aboard the BHP-chartered bulk carrier Berge Lyngor during a voyage from Western Australia to China, achieving an estimated 79% reduction in well-to-wake greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to conventional Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO).
Table of Contents
The Feedstock Crunch: Why Tallow Matters
Until now, the maritime industry’s adoption of sustainable drop-in biofuels has relied almost exclusively on UCOME. However, aggregate global supply lines for used cooking oil are rapidly approaching their projected structural limits. To scale up biodiesel adoption, shipowners must diversify their feedstock profiles.
Waste animal fat (tallow) represents a massive, largely untapped alternative. By proving that tallow-derived biodiesel can be integrated directly into legacy UCOME bunkering infrastructure without dedicated, standalone supply chains, this pilot provides shipowners with the operational flexibility needed to optimize fuel procurement based on regional availability, cost variance, and life-cycle carbon performance.
Operational Logistics & Supply Chain Architecture
The bunkering operation was executed in early May 2026 at the Port of Singapore, utilizing an intricate network of upstream fuel suppliers, blenders, and marine brokers:
- The Fuel Formulation: A 50/50 corporate split consisting of 50% tallow-derived biodiesel, sourced and supplied by HAMR Energy, and 50% UCOME, supplied by Mitsui & Co. Energy Trading Singapore (METS).
- Blending & Execution: Mitsui managed the physical blending of the two feedstocks. Dan-Bunkering coordinated and executed the bunker stem, which was physically transferred to the vessel by Global Energy’s specialized bunkering barge, the MT Maple.
- Funding & Regulatory Backing: The project is co-funded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) under its Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund (MINT).
Technical Challenges Under Assessment
While multi-feedstock blending solves supply constraints, it introduces complex chemical and physical variables. Biofuels derived from different organic bases exhibit distinct technical properties that can jeopardize engine health if unmonitored.
The ongoing pilot is specifically analyzing the Berge Lyngor’s machinery performance to assess:
- Oxidation Stability: Evaluating potential asset corrosion caused by the breakdown of acidic oxidation by-products over time.
- Cold Flow Properties & Waxing: Monitoring fuel system clogging caused by accelerated wax and sludge formation, a common risk with animal fats in lower ambient temperatures.
- Filter Blockage: Gauging fuel filter restriction resulting from the typical “solvent effect” of bio-blends cleaning out legacy sediment in ship tanks.
- Emissions Profile: Measuring onboard NOx levels and non-CO2 greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide (N2O).
Forensic Traceability & Assurance Frameworks
A core objective of the GCMD-led pilot is strengthening the data integrity behind Scope 1 emissions reporting. When multiple feedstocks with varying lifecycle greenhouse gas footprints are combined, physical verification becomes difficult, opening the door to supply chain fraud.
To counter this, the pilot is deploying advanced chemical fingerprinting. This forensic testing method maps the unique chemical signatures of individual biodiesels to physically verify fuel origin and composition throughout the downstream custody chain.
“Building on the experience and insights from our earlier biofuel pilots, GCMD has developed a robust framework to safeguard the integrity of biofuel use across quantity, quality, and lifecycle GHG emissions abatement,” said Professor Lynn Loo, CEO of GCMD. “This framework provides a strong foundation to evaluate how a broader range of biofuels from alternative feedstocks, including animal tallow, can be credibly integrated into marine fuel supply chains.”
Strategic Perspectives from the Value Chain
The successful bunkering of the Berge Lyngor highlights a coordinated push by bulk charterers, vessel owners, and upstream fuel technology companies to de-risk green pathways.
“As the world’s largest bulk charterer, we want to continue to test and trial alternative fuels that will help increase supply and send industry demand signals for further investment,” said Emma Roberts, Vice President of Maritime & Supply Chain Excellence at BHP. “Along with LNG and ammonia, biodiesel has a big role to play in the future supply of sustainable marine fuels.”
For the vessel owner, Berge Bulk, the trial represents an evolution of a multi-year decarbonization strategy.
“Berge Bulk has been gaining experience using biofuel (B30, B50, and B100) on voyages since 2021,” stated James Marshall, Founder & CEO of Berge Bulk. “Over the past year alone, our biofuel voyages avoided more than 13,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. It’s an important element of our decarbonisation plan alongside efficiency, technology, and carbon capture.”
This sentiment of supply diversification was strongly echoed by the upstream fuel sector.
“This project shows the huge potential of biofuels to power fleets, reduce emissions and strengthen fuel security by diversifying supplies,” David Stribley, Co-founder of HAMR Energy stated. “At HAMR Energy, we are focused on working with partners to unlock these opportunities. We are seeing increasing interest from users and a growing industry of fuel producers ready to meet this demand. The success of this trial is an important step in embedding biofuels from various feedstock sources in the shipping fuel mix.”
As regulatory frameworks tighten globally, the data harvested from this multi-feedstock trial will provide the commercial baseline needed to establish animal fats as a mainstream, credible component of the global marine fuel mix.
Pilot Framework & Fuel Specifications
Rationale and Strategic Objectives
The primary objective of this pilot is to test the integration of tallow-derived Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) into existing marine biofuel supply chains, specifically using the established Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester (UCOME) bunkering infrastructure already prevalent in major marine fuel hubs.
By demonstrating that diverse feedstocks can utilize legacy FAME-based fueling networks, the maritime sector can avoid the prohibitive costs of constructing standalone, parallel supply infrastructure from scratch. The operational goal is twofold:
- Compatibility Assessment: Evaluating fuel blend stability, quality, and material compatibility under real-world commercial operating conditions.
- Procurement Flexibility: Providing shipowners and operators with the operational assurance required to optimize marine fuel procurement across shifting variables of cost, regional availability, and lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) performance.
Fuel Chemistry & Feedstock Characteristics
- Tallow-derived FAME: A high-grade marine biodiesel produced from waste animal fats (such as beef tallow) via transesterification, transforming complex lipids into clean-burning alkyl esters compatible with compression-ignition marine engines.
- UCOME: A mature, drop-in biodiesel variant derived from recycled used cooking oil through chemical transesterification, serving as the baseline component of modern marine bio-blends.
- The B100 Bio-Blend: The specific product bunkered for this trial is an unblended, 100% bio-product (B100) comprising a precise 50/50 volumetric mix of tallow-derived FAME (supplied by HAMR Energy) and UCOME (supplied by Mitsui & Co. Energy Trading Singapore).
- Feedstock Provenance: The tallow feedstock and its subsequent converted biodiesel were entirely sourced from Australia. Crucially, the tallow is derived from Category 1 and Category 2 animal fats. Because these categories are strictly classified as unsuitable for human consumption or animal feed, the supply chain operates sustainably without competing with global food or agricultural feed markets.
Life-Cycle Carbon Emissions Intensity Comparison
The pilot highlights the distinct carbon-abatement profiles of alternative feedstocks. While conventional heavy marine fuel oil remains highly carbon-intensive, the waste-derived bio-components offer dramatic reductions across their entire well-to-wake lifecycle:
Quality Assurance, Traceability, and Onboard Performance
Quality Compliance
To verify that the unblended B100 bio-blend maintains chemical stability and product integrity across every stage of the marine supply chain, fuel properties are being tracked, sampled, and monitored against rigorous international fuel criteria, including EN 14214 (the European standard for automotive/industrial FAME) and ISO 8217 (the global marine fuel standard).
Forensic Traceability
To safeguard compliance and prevent supply chain fraud, advanced chemical fingerprinting is deployed throughout the trial. This forensic methodology maps the precise, unique chemical and molecular signatures of individual biodiesel feedstocks. This verification process ensures absolute integrity regarding sustainability origins and carbon-reduction reporting claims.
Onboard Trial Parameters
The operational phase of the pilot is closely monitoring the mechanical impacts of the bio-blend on the vessel’s prime mover and fuel-delivery systems. Technical teams are actively gathering data on:
- Oxidation & Corrosion: Assessing whether acidic oxidation by-products cause degradation in fuel tanks, piping, or fuel injection components.
- Waxing and Sludge Formation: Monitoring for fuel system clogging caused by wax precipitation, a common risk with animal-fat feedstocks when exposed to lower ambient temperatures.
- Filter Blockage: Evaluating filter restriction risks stemming from the “solvent effect” of unblended FAME, which tends to dislodge legacy asphaltic sediments from fuel tank walls.
Emissions Verification
Beyond carbon dioxide, the trial includes dedicated exhaust emissions performance evaluations. Specialized testing is tracking nitrogen oxides (NOx) alongside non-CO2 greenhouse gases, such as nitrous oxide (N2O), to formally codify the complete environmental profile of multi-feedstock tallow bio-blends.
About the Project Partners
BHP
BHP is a leading global resources company supported by a workforce of more than 90,000 employees and contractors operating across more than 90 locations worldwide. Firmly focused on producing the essential resources required for global economic growth and energy transition, the company is strategically positioned for long-term expansion across its four core commodity pillars: copper, potash, iron ore, and steelmaking coal. As the world’s largest dry bulk charterer, BHP leverages its extensive global maritime footprint to actively test and scale alternative fuel pathways to accelerate international shipping decarbonization.
Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD)
Established on August 1, 2021, as an independent, non-profit organization, the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) is dedicated to helping the international shipping industry meet its climate targets through rigorous, real-world pilots and trials. Headquartered in Singapore, the world’s largest bunkering hub and busiest transshipment port, GCMD executes its mission across four strategic pillars: shaping standards, deploying solutions, financing projects, and fostering cross-sector collaboration.
Founded with initial support from core industry partners and research funding from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), GCMD’s ecosystem has since grown to encompass more than 130 center- and project-level partners. Today, the center manages four flagship initiatives aimed at closing critical technical and operational gaps in the maritime sector:
- Enabling ammonia as a safe, viable marine fuel.
- Developing a robust operational assurance framework for drop-in green fuels.
- Unlocking the maritime carbon value chain through onboard carbon capture and defining downstream carbon dioxide utilization pathways.
- Closing the data-financing gap to accelerate and scale the commercial adoption of energy efficiency technologies.
Source: GCMD