ROTTERDAM-Singapore Green and Digital Shipping Corridor has completed a bio-methane bunkering pilot in Rotterdam, with plans for a similar endeavour in Singapore.

The bunkering trial took place on October 19, involving the supply of 100 tonnes of mass-balanced liquefied bio-methane by Shell to CMA CGM’s LNG-powered containership, CMA CGM Tivoli (IMO: 9961312), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said.

The mass balancing tracks the liquefied bio-methane, which was produced from waste-based feedstock, and its decarbonisation credentials through the supply chain. It enables a transparent chain of custody so the sustainability enhancements can be attributed to the buyer of the bio-methane.

The adoption of mass balance methodology also ensures compliance with International Sustainability and Carbon Certification-European Union certification standards, Renewable Energy Directive II, and FuelEU Maritime regulations. 

The pilot bunkering will also provide CMA CGM with the opportunity to ensure that the mass-balanced fuel is properly recognised by the authorities in relation to the EU Emissions Trading System regulation.

A similar LBM bunkering pilot with full sustainability certification is planned at the port of Singapore, MPA said.

Founded by the Port of Rotterdam and the MPA in 2022, the Rotterdam-Singapore GDSC aims to reduce emissions from the busy route by at least 20% by 2030, by enabling the use of low- and zero-carbon shipping fuels, with the ultimate aim to reach net-zero emissions in 2050.

There are more than 90 large container vessels on the 15,000 km route, with a combined transport capacity of 1.5m teu per year, according to the port of Rotterdam.

As multiple fuels are currently under development, GDSC believed that the bio-based and synthetic variants of methanol and methane are currently the frontrunners, with ammonia and hydrogen expected to follow in the coming years.

There have been 62 green corridor initiatives worldwide this year. Among these, six corridors have progressed beyond the initial planning phases and are now gearing up for implementation, according to the latest annual progress report from the Global Maritime Forum,

Nevertheless, these corridors have encountered a “feasibility wall” due to the significant cost disparity between conventional fuel and green fuel, the report said, citing a survey in which most respondents were willing to pay only a 2%-5% green premium.