Maersk, the world’s biggest freight shipper, has combined with industry certifier and consultant Lloyd’s Register and the Dutch government to test biofuel in ships. Lloyd’s Register says a two-year biodiesel testing programme on board the container ship, Maersk Kalmar, would see the biofuel blended with conventional bunker fuel in increasing proportions starting at just 5 to 7 per cent.
The aviation and automotive industries already have similar testing programmes underway with results encouraging. In theory, biodiesel can be substituted for petro-diesel without engine modification but tests so far have been aimed determining just how rich a blend engines can handle and whether there are adverse effects on engine life.
