Furetank, a leading maritime logistics company, specializing in tanker shipping and services for the oil and chemical industries, has successfully completed its first bunkering of 200 tonnes of ISCC certified Bio-LNG, marking a significant step towards meeting the EU’s ambitious environmental regulations. This operation, carried out in collaboration with environmental commodity trader STX Group and Molgas, supports the company’s transition to cleaner fuels and highlights the growing adoption of Bio-LNG within the maritime sector.
The bunkering took place off the coast of Mongstad, Norway, with Furetank’s tanker vessel Fure Viken receiving the Bio-LNG. This fuel delivery helps the company comply with the new FuelEU Maritime Regulation, which mandates a 2% reduction in the greenhouse gas intensity of vessel fuel by 2025. As the shipping industry faces increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, this milestone underscores Furetank’s commitment to sustainable fuel solutions.
A New Path in the Green Transition
Bio-LNG, a mass-balanced product, is produced by injecting certified biomethane into the gas grid, which is then withdrawn and liquefied into Maritime fuel. The new FuelEU Maritime regulation does not differentiate between mass-balanced and off-grid biomethane, providing a valuable avenue for shipping companies like Furetank to meet environmental targets, even amid challenges related to the availability of biomethane and delivery infrastructure.
“We used biomethane of the highest environmental standard available in the market. This transaction marks a milestone in our transition to clean fuels, while also supporting European agriculture and biogas production. Furetank has worked for several years with fuel suppliers and ports to realize larger-scale liquefied biogas deliveries across several European destinations. This is a very positive development,” said Björn Stignor, CEO of Furetank.
The ISCC certified Bio-LNG was sourced, liquefied, and delivered by STX Group and Molgas. This marks the first time Molgas has delivered mass-balanced Bio-LNG bunkers to a maritime customer in Norway.
Growing Demand for Bio-LNG
The collaboration between STX Group, Molgas, and Furetank comes at a time when demand for Bio-LNG is on the rise, especially as one of the few renewable fuel solutions available to the shipping industry. For this operation, the partners worked together to ensure the entire supply chain—from sourcing biomethane to the liquefaction process—was fully certified under the EU Renewable Energy Directive (REDII), ensuring that the fuel met the highest standards of sustainability.
“We see a growing demand and interest in Bio-LNG, as it is one of the few renewable fuel solutions currently available in shipping. For this operation, we collaborated to prove a mass-balanced biomethane delivery and certify the entire supply chain. This new option strengthens the competitiveness of biomethane as part of the green transition,” said Gunnar Helmen, Director Marine at Molgas Nordics. “We hope that public policy will further support renewable fuels, as we at Molgas are ready to provide it to our maritime customers.”
Gas Propulsion: A Key Step Towards Clean Shipping
One of the key benefits of gas propulsion is its ability to replace fossil fuels. Since methane molecules are the same regardless of their origin, it makes blending easier compared to liquid fuels, which can have varying physical properties and require specific engine adaptations.
STX Group, an environmental commodity trader, views this transaction as an early indicator of a new fuel market emerging within the maritime sector. “Bio-LNG is an efficient answer to FuelEU Maritime, a market-based regulation that rewards those who blend in biofuels and penalizes those who don’t. Together with the EU ETS, it builds a business case for renewable fuels. This transaction is proof of how Bio-LNG can be a powerful tool when lowering emissions from the transport sector,” said Sead Keric, Managing Partner of Renewable Gas at STX Group.
Competitive Advantages through FuelEU Maritime
Furetank recognizes the positive impact of the FuelEU Maritime Regulation as a crucial incentive to reduce shipping emissions. The company hopes that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will implement a similar regulation globally to create a more uniform maritime market.
“This bunkering is a major step on Furetank’s journey toward carbon neutrality. We are happy to take part in paving the way for larger volumes and easier access to biomethane as a maritime fuel. This is what we have long advocated for to policymakers: to raise environmental requirements and connect them to economic incentives. It brings competitive advantages for our energy-efficient dual-fuel Vinga vessels, already running on a cleaner fuel than conventional gasoil,” said Viktoria Höglund, Sustainability Strategist at Furetank.
The FuelEU Maritime Regulation sets maximum limits for the yearly average greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of the energy used by ships over 5,000 gross tonnage calling at European ports. The regulation aims to ensure that the GHG intensity of fuels used in the maritime sector gradually decreases, with targets set for a 2% reduction by 2025, and up to an 80% reduction by 2050. The regulation covers not only CO2 but also methane and nitrous oxide emissions over the full lifecycle of the fuels used onboard, calculated on a Well-to-Wake (WtW) basis.
About Furetank
Based in Donsö, Sweden, Furetank is a family-owned shipping company with a long history in tanker shipping dating back to the early 1950s. As a founding member of the Gothia Tanker Alliance, Furetank operates 40 vessels primarily in European waters. The company is committed to adopting green solutions to benefit both the environment and climate, continuously striving to lead the industry in sustainability.
Furetank’s successful Bio-LNG bunkering is a milestone in the company’s ongoing efforts to transition to clean fuels and comply with evolving EU regulations. Through continued collaboration with bunker fuel suppliers, ports, and regulatory bodies, Furetank aims to pave the way for broader use of renewable maritime fuels across Europe.
Source Furetank