VARO and GoodFuels extend partnership to scale Bio Fuel Oil availability to deep sea segment in ARA Region
VARO Energy subsidiary REINPLUS FIWADO Bunker and GoodFuels have extended their partnership to improve availability of bio fuel oil (BFO) to deep sea vessels leaving from Rotterdam, VARO said in a press release.
The new deep sea proposition, which will help to improve the sustainability of the segment, is based on extending the availability of GoodFuels’ Bio Fuel Oil, which the company launched in Autumn 2018.
The new partnership will see VARO help scale the sourcing, production, blending and distribution of GoodFuels Bio Fuel Oil across the ARA region. In the meantime, GoodFuels will continue to focus on the sourcing of sustainable feedstocks for the Bio Fuel Oil, and the sale, marketing and product development of new sustainable fuel solutions.
GoodFuels’ BFO is a direct “drop-in” replacement for heavy fuel oil, containing no sulphur and 90% less carbon when compared to traditional fossil-based fuels such as heavy fuel oil. The biofuels are suitable for every type of vessel, without requiring any modifications to engine room equipment.
The move extends the steps taken by VARO and GoodFuels last year to form a partnership focused on scaling sustainable marine biofuels for the European inland shipping market.
Ben van Kol, Managing Director of REINPLUS FIWADO Bunker, said: "Due to upcoming IMO spec changes and stricter emission requirements, the demand for alternative shipping fuels is increasing. We are proud to now also provide sustainable biofuels to deep sea clients, alongside our inland shipping customers, through the collaboration between GoodFuels and our parent company VARO Energy.”
Dirk Kronemeijer, CEO, GoodFuels, said: "This collaboration will enable us to rapidly scale and offer one of the most climate-friendly fuel options for shipping to deep sea customers in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp region. Decarbonisation makes the adoption of alternative fuel solutions increasingly important and we are confident that this will help to further accelerate the maritime industry’s sustainability drive."
To support shipping’s wider decarbonisation goals, in 2016 GoodFuels founded The GoodShipping Program to engage cargo owners in the challenge of combatting shipping’s carbon emissions. In September 2018 the Program announced that five shippers had completely offset the carbon emissions of their cargo by refuelling a vessel with marine biofuels.
About REINPLUS FIWADO Bunker
REINPLUS FIWADO Bunker, part of VARO Energy, is the largest independent bunkering company for Rhine and inland shipping and has been active since 1925. Within Europe, REINPLUS FIWADO Bunker is represented on the main waterways with its own strategic network of modern equipped bunker stations and bunker boats. Provisions by the bunker stations of REINPLUS FIWADO Bunker include gas oil, lubricating oil and ship supplies for inland navigation. REINPLUS FIWADO Bunker has been part of VARO Energy since 2015.