Dredging services provider Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. and biofuels supplier GoodFuels are set to take the next key step in the ‘Boskalis on Bio’ program for the testing of sustainable bio-fuel oil.
Following earlier successful tests with ‘drop-in’ blends of light biofuel and marine gas oil, Boskalis’ Willem van Oranje will be the first dredging vessel in the world to operate on 100% bio-fuel oil.
The sulfur-free sustainable residual fuel consists wholly of used cooking oil and contains no fossil fuels. This allows a substantial carbon reduction of 90% thereby contributing to a reduction of Boskalis’ carbon footprint.
"This world first for Boskalis is the result of the ‘Boskalis on Bio’ pilot program launched in 2015 in cooperation with engine manufacturer Wärtsilä and GoodFuels," said a press note.
With this program Boskalis aims to realize a substantial reduction in carbon emissions from both its vessels and its dry earth-moving equipment and trucks.
Since the launch of the program Boskalis has successfully used various biofuel blends on both dredging and offshore installation vessels and on dry earthmoving equipment as an alternative to fossil fuels.
For example on the projects to create the Marker Wadden nature area and to install the export cable to the Borssele offshore wind farm, both in the Netherlands.
The 143-meter long trailing suction hopper dredger Willem van Oranje, which was taken into service in 2010, has a hopper capacity of 12,000 cubic meters and total installed power of 13,870 kW. The versatile dredging vessel can dredge to a depth of up to 62 meters and is deployed on the most diverse maritime infrastructure projects around the world.