The Taiwanese headquartered shipowner U-Ming Marine Transport Corporation has announced that its 64,000 Dwat bulk carrier Mv Asian Progress, on July 24 successfully has completed its first bunkering operation of B24 biofuel (FAME B24) at the Port of Singapore.

This bunker supply marks U-Ming’s first vessel to adopt to biofuel, signifying a major step forward in the company’s journey toward low-carbon shipping and its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 as the company states.

U-Ming states that it since 2023 has actively promoted a low-carbon fuel substitution strategy, gradually increasing the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as marine fuel. As of 2024, LNG accounts for approximately 8.15% of the company’s total energy consumption, demonstrating tangible progress in its low-carbon transition it informs.

However, adopting low-carbon fuels like LNG requires the installation of additional fuel tanks, which poses spatial challenges for smaller vessels. U-Ming has therefore selected the ultramax bulk carrier mv Asian Progress as the starting point to introduce B24 biofuel, pioneering the use of low-carbon fuel in smaller vessels.

The bunkering operation was supplied by TFG Marine Pte Ltd, with a total volume of 300 metric tons, and U-Ming is expecting it to reduce well-to-wake carbon emissions by approximately 20% compared to conventional marine fuel.