Rotterdam-Singapore Shipping Corridor Completes 1st Bio-Methane Bunkering

The Rotterdam-Singapore Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC) has achieved a major milestone by conducting a successful pilot for bunkering mass-balanced liquefied bio-methane (LBM) at the Port of Rotterdam on October 19, 2024.

Shell, the oil and gas company, supplied 100 tonnes of LBM to CMA CGM’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered containership, the CMA CGM TIVOLI.

This LBM, made from waste-based feedstock, is a lower-emission alternative to conventional marine fuels, supporting the GDSC mission to promote near-zero emission fuels on one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.

The pilot was part of the bio-methane working group’s efforts to advance sustainable fuel solutions.

Shell issued a Proof of Sustainability certificate for the fuel, confirming that it complies with European Union regulations. This certificate will be audited by third-party organisations accredited by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification-European Union (ISCC-EU).

The pilot applied a mass balance methodology to ensure full transparency and compliance.

This method tracks the LBM’s journey through the supply chain, making sure it meets ISCC-EU standards, the Renewable Energy Directive II, and FuelEU Maritime regulations.

This level of end-to-end tracking sets standards for global consistency with accounting frameworks like those under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The pilot also offers CMA CGM the chance to confirm that mass-balanced LBM will be properly recognised under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS).

Launched in August 2022 by the Port of Rotterdam and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the GDSC aims to speed up decarbonisation and digitalisation in the maritime industry.

So far, it has brought together 28 global partners, including shipping lines, fuel suppliers, port authorities, banks, universities, and industry coalitions.

The bio-methane working group, led by SEA-LNG, is one of several groups under the GDSC focused on promoting zero- and near-zero-emission fuels.

Other groups are exploring alternative fuel options like ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen for a greener future in shipping.
This pilot is just the beginning.

The GDSC plans to conduct a similar LBM bunkering trial at the Port of Singapore to refine the process and expand the use of sustainable fuels.

References: Port of Rotterdam, MPA