Japan’s NYK to charter methanol-fuelled bulk carrier
Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line) plans to charter a bio- or synthetic methanol (e-methanol)-fuelled bulk carrier after its construction by the spring of 2025.
NYK Line announced on 19 August that its affiliate NYK Bulk and Project Carriers signed a charter agreement with fellow Japanese shipping company Kambara Kisen on 1 August. The 65,700dwt vessel is being built by Japanese shipbuilder Tsuneishi Shipbuilding at its Tsuneishi dockyard in west Japan's Hiroshima prefecture. It will be NYK Line's first methanol-fuelled bulk carrier.
The bulk carrier will be equipped with a dual-fuel engine, which can burn methanol and conventional fuel oil. NYK Line aims to use biomass-based methanol or e-methanol, which is generated by using renewable hydrogen and carbon dioxide, to further reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. NYK Line expects it to cut GHG emissions by 70-80pc compared with fuel oil. The firm has not decided yet where to buy the low-carbon methanol.
NYK Line is also involved in developing a biomass-fuelled biomass carrier, targeting to build it by the end of 2029. The vessel will be equipped with a pyrolysis gasifier system, burning wood pellets from storage to generate gas for use in a gas-engine power generator. The electricity will be used to propel the ship.
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Massive Canadian rail disruptions move closer
Massive Canadian rail disruptions move closer
Washington, 19 August (Argus) — A Canadian rail workers union and two major Canadian railroads moved closer to a disruptive nationwide strike on 22 August, with the union issuing on Sunday a 3-day strike notice to Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and fellow railroad Canadian National (CN) telling the union it will lock employees out that same day. A strike by workers from the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference would cause widespread disruptions to commodity deliveries across North America. The major carriers last week began to embargo shipments of hazardous materials between the US and Canada. Canadian National expects to issue new embargoes today. Its shutdown plan began last Monday. "Unfortunately, we have no choice but to keep moving forward with this plan which means that by Thursday morning, no goods will be moving on the railroad," the railroad said. CPKC similarly began to implement shutdown plans last week. Tomorrow it will begin embargoing all shipments originating in Canada and all US shipments headed to Canada. Contracts between the Teamsters and each railroad expired at the end of last year. Employees have continued to work under those agreements but that is nearing an end as the parties remain far apart on many issues including pay and work hours. The union and railroads' strategies differ. The Teamsters so far have only issued a strike notice at one carrier. Contract negotiations are occurring separately with each railroad. "The only reason we served strike notice at [Canadian Pacific Kansas City] is because the company was set to cancel our expired collective agreements," the union said. "This would have created a situation where our members had no rights or protections at work." The union claimed CPKC is pressuring it for concession that would make it " harder for workers to predict when they might be called for work, creating a fatigue-related safety risk." The union also said the carrier was trying to change work rules related to being held away from home, and undermining Canada Labour Code provisions. CPKC in turn told the Teamsters it will lock out employees on 22 August unless the two parties are able to come to either a negotiated agreement or agree to binding arbitration. The Teamsters said late Sunday that, at that time, it did not intend to issue a strike against Canadian National. But Canadian National said it will lock employees out "unless an agreement or binding arbitration is achieved" before before 12:01am ET on 22 August. "Despite negotiations over the weekend, no meaningful progress has occurred, and the parties remain very far apart," Canadian National said. By Abby Caplan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
ACBL sets upper Mississippi closure schedule
ACBL sets upper Mississippi closure schedule
Houston, 16 August (Argus) — Major barge carrier American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) this week issued tentative dates for final loadings before the upper Mississippi River closes for the winter. The final loading date for Houston shipments to Dubuque, Iowa, through St Paul, Minnesota, will be 26 September. Houston vessels with a stop between Louisiana, Missouri, through Clinton, Iowa, will have their final loading date on 10 October. St Louis, Missouri, vessels heading north to Dubuque through St Paul must leave before 22 October, and vessels stopping between Louisiana, Missouri, or Clinton, Iowa must leave before 5 November. Final southbound departure dates for vessels from St Paul and Dubuque will be 24 November and 1 December, respectively. Vessels in Clinton must begin moving south by 8 December. Crews need 10 days to prepare and unload barges, ACBL said, which added that dates may be pushed forward or back depending on operating conditions and weather. Other barge carriers are expected to release final loading dates in the coming weeks, along with the US Army Corps of Engineers official upper Mississippi River closure date. The upper Mississippi River officially closed on 3 December last winter and reopened around 12 March. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Agunsa offers biodiesel bunkers in Argentina
Agunsa offers biodiesel bunkers in Argentina
New York, 15 August (Argus) — Chile-based marine fuel supplier Agunsa, which also sells marine fuels in Argentina, is now offering biodiesel for bunkering in Argentina. Agunsa's subsidiary Total Bunkering — not affiliated with France's TotalEnergies — entered into a partnership with an unnamed local Argentinian supplier to procure used cooking oil methyl ester (Ucome), which it can blend with either very low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) or with marine gasoil. The fuel is International Certification in Sustainability and Carbon (ISCC)-certified. It can be supplied via truck to the ports of San Nicolas, Campana, San Pedtro, Rosario and the Ternium-Siderar terminal. Globally, one of the most popular biodiesel blends is B30, a blend of 30pc Ucome and 70pc VLSFO. An Argentinean B30 biodiesel bunker blend could command a premium of about 80pc to the price of VLSFO, Agunsa told Argus . Buenos Aires, Argentina, VLSFO was assessed at an average of $599/t on 1-14 August, which would place B30 at around $1,078/t. By Stefka Wechsler Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
UK to exclude SAF from China biodiesel investigation
UK to exclude SAF from China biodiesel investigation
London, 15 August (Argus) — The UK has proposed revising the scope of its an anti-dumping investigation into China-origin biodiesel and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) to explicitly exclude sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The investigation, which was launched on 5 June, was never intended to include SAF, but the UK's Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) subsequently asked interested parties for feedback on whether it should be included after it was brought to its attention that SAF could be considered to fit the description in the initial notice. That notice stated that the inquiry would cover "fatty-acid mono-alkylesters or paraffinic gasoils obtained from synthesis or hydrotreatment of non-fossil origin, in pure form or as included in a blend" in the period from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. The TRA has now proposed amending the description to explicitly exclude "sustainable aviation fuel, in pure form or as included in a blend". But there will be no change to the commodity codes as a result of the revision. The written scope of the investigation is the primary focus at this stage, with the commodity codes serving merely as reference points and not binding criteria, according to the TRA. SAF should be excluded from the investigation because it has distinct production processes and raw materials compared to HVO and fatty acid methyl esters (Fame), limited interchangeability with road transport fuels, a higher selling price and a different regulatory framework under the UK's SAF mandate starting in January 2025 , the TRA said. SAF also benefits from a tax rebate for aviation use, making it economically unviable for road transport use, and has a different customer base, it said. Interested parties have until 21 August to submit any comments, after which the TRA will make a final decision on the scope of the investigation. The investigation follows an application by the Renewable Transport Fuel Association (RTFA) on behalf of UK biofuels producers Argent Energy and Olleco, which alleged that exports from China to the UK were below market value, adversely affecting the UK biofuels industry. The RTFA advocated for including SAF, HVO and Fame in the investigation, citing their potential interchangeability and the minimal amount of investment needed to increase production of HVO and SAF in the UK. But Chinese biofuels producer Ecoceres argued that SAF should be excluded, arguing that it is not interchangeable with Fame and there is limited supply-side substitutability. Ecoceres also pointed out that the UK did not have a domestic SAF industry during the period under investigation, which means that imports from China could not have caused injury. The airline group IAG also supported excluding SAF, emphasising the aviation industry's reliance on imports due to limited global production capacity. The UK government officially confirmed last month that subject to parliamentary approval it will introduce a SAF mandate starting next year. Obligated suppliers will have to deliver a 2pc share of SAF in 2025, increasing to 10pc in 2030, 15pc in 2035 and 22pc in 2040. The obligation will remain at 22pc from 2040 "until there is greater certainty regarding SAF supply", the government said. Under the mandate, hydrotreated esters and fatty acids (HEFA) SAF can be used to meet 100pc of SAF demand in 2025 and 2026, but it will be capped at 71pc in 2030 and 35pc in 2040. HEFA is the most common type of SAF today, and is expected to account for over 70pc of global production by the end of the decade, according to Argus data. By Evelina Lungu Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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