United European Car Carriers leads partnership to advance CNSL as a sustainable marine fuel

United European Car Carriers (UECC) has collaborated with maritime advisory organization Lloyd’s Register FOBAS, engine manufacturer Wartsila and biofuel supplier ACT Group to assess and evaluate a cashew nut shell liquid-based (CNSL) biofuel.

CNSL-based biofuel

As part of this partnership, ACT Group created a CNSL-based biofuel known as FSI.100. This was achieved through a development process that included extensive engine testing and a controlled supply chain. Following testing on various blend combinations FSI.100 received approval from engine manufacturers as a 30% blend component in an ISO 8217 DMA grade distillate fuel oil to carry out sea trials.

FSI.100 has been designed to address concerns about the popularity and suitability of CNSL-based biofuels. According to the partners, it also offers advantages – a certified sustainable, fully controlled supply chain that ensures traceability and accountability from the point of origin to extraction, conversion and consumption. This approach is intended to improve confidence in CNSL-derived marine fuels, reduce waste and promote resource efficiency, aligning with circular economy principles in the maritime sector. Additionally, FSI.100 uses sustainable land use practices and exhibits maritime fuel properties, such as ultra-low sulfur and winter spec pour points. It also delivers significant greenhouse gas savings, with well-to-wake emissions reductions of 90% (9.50gCO₂eq/MJ) compared to conventional maritime fuels.

Daniel Gent, energy and sustainability manager at UECC, stated, “In our decarbonization journey, it’s essential to leave no stone unturned. UECC is proud to lead the industry in not only implementing creative solutions but also establishing a blueprint for the critical assessment of future fuels such as CNSL-based FSI.100, which holds great potential for sustainable shipping.”

Provisional acceptance process

The joint efforts between UECC, LR FOBAS, Wartsila and ACT Group have resulted in structured and phased processes that include extensive engine test bench trials and analytical assessments to evaluate the suitability of CNSL-based FSI.100 blends in both residual and distillate fuel oils for marine applications, UECC says.

The collaboration has now resulted in the provisional acceptance of CNSL- based FSI.100 as a 30% blend component in a distillate DMA marine fuel oil, cleared by OEM, Class and flag Administrations, for sea-trial stages.

Fabio Scaramelli, biofuels supply and trading division lead at ACT Group, noted, “As innovators in maritime sustainability, our partnership with UECC, LR FOBAS and Wartsila represents a significant step forward in advancing CNSL-based biofuels. The development of FSI.100 highlights our dedication to creating transformative resources for the sector’s decarbonization journey.”

Gent added, “UECC’s collaboration with industry leaders demonstrates our dedication to shaping the future of sustainable shipping. By setting high standards and embracing innovative solutions, we are not only reducing emissions but also driving positive change across the maritime industry.”

In related news, working in collaboration with GoodFuels and vessel owner NYK, United European Car Carriers (UECC) recently completed the successful delivery of sustainable biofuel in the port of Vlissingen, Netherlands, to the m/v Emerald Leader – a UECC time-chartered vessel. Click here to read the full story.