Holland America Line completed the cruise industry’s first long-term biofuel trial aboard the Volendam in the Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands. The 20-day trial was conducted in partnership with GoodFuels, a leading producer and supplier of sustainable biofuels for the transportation industry, and Wärtsilä, a global leader in power and propulsion technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine market.
The evaluation concluded on September 7. For the first five days of the trial, the ship used a blend of 30% biofuel and 70% marine gas oil (MGO) in one of its main auxiliary engines. During the final 15 days of the trial, the vessel ran on 100% biofuel. According to GoodFuels, lifecycle CO2 emissions were reduced by 78% during the final 15 days of the trial compared to marine gas oil.
“We are excited to have this opportunity to test a next-generation fuel resource on a Holland America Line ship, and we are very encouraged by the results,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “As part of our commitment to sustainability, we have always sought cutting-edge solutions to environmental challenges that will help us meet Carnival Corporation’s sustainability goals in the coming decades.”
The Volendam was selected for the trial because it is located in the port of Rotterdam, one of the world's ports where GoodFuels operates the necessary infrastructure to provide on-water biofuel bunkering services. Using a drop-in biofuel like the one tested on the Volendam requires no onboard modifications or special equipment.
“Marine biofuel is already the world’s largest low-carbon marine fuel and we expect its use to increase considerably to reach 10% of total volume by 2030,” said Dirk Kronemeijer, CEO and founder of GoodFuels.
“We are continuously developing our engine technology to accept and maintain operational and environmental efficiency levels with various future fuels, including biofuels. These 100% biofuel sea trials will be especially important – for Carnival Corporation, for Goodfuels, for Wärtsilä, and for the industry as a whole,” said Ricardo Opperman, CEO of Wärtsilä North America Inc.
The biofuel trials by both brands support Carnival Corporation’s overall environmental mission, goals, and aspirations. These include achieving a 40% reduction in carbon emissions per available dock day by 2030; expanding its alternative fuels strategy through its liquefied natural gas (LNG) program and battery, fuel cell, and biofuel capabilities; achieving a 50% reduction in absolute atmospheric particulate emissions by 2030; and aspiring to achieve net-zero carbon operations by 2050.
