Swire Shipping has announced that three of its vessels will transition to B24 and B30 biofuels blends. This move aligns with the company’s sustainability goals and offers customers options to reduce emissions.
The vessels involved are Apia Chief and Tonga Chief, operating on the Pacific Weekly Express (PWX) service. This service connects Southeast Asia to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, and Fiji. Kokopo Chief operates on the East Timor (ETS) service, which runs every 10 days between Singapore, Dili, Darwin, and Surabaya.
These vessels will begin using B24 biofuel in Singapore by Q2 2025 and will later switch to B30 blends. Jeremy Sutton, CEO of Swire Shipping, emphasized the company’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint. He noted the vulnerability of South Pacific island nations to climate change impacts.
The initiative involves partnership with Argent Energy, a waste-based biofuel producer. It aims to combine efforts within the Swire Group to deliver sustainable energy solutions. The collaboration also includes BP, which supplies biofuel in Singapore.
Louise Calviou, CEO of Argent Energy, highlighted the importance of international partnerships in achieving decarbonization goals. She expressed satisfaction with the collaborative effort to promote waste-derived biofuels.
In conjunction with the biofuel program, Swire Shipping will launch the “Voyage to Zero” carbon abatement initiative. This program aims to support customers in reducing their Scope 3 emissions. Participants will receive certificates of verified emission savings.
Susana Germino, Chief Sustainability & Energy Transition Officer, stated that the biofuel program marks a significant milestone in Swire Shipping’s decarbonization roadmap. In its first year, the initiative is expected to have an environmental impact equivalent to removing 2,700 cars from the road. An earlier trial in August 2024 confirmed the operational readiness of the vessels for long-term biofuel adoption.
