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Virgin Voyages calls first trial of sustainable biofuel 'incredibly promising'

Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady tested the use of waste-based biofuel during a recent cruise from Barcelona.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

November 1, 2023

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

The fuel mixture was a combination of 20% used cooking oil, which met global ISCC certification, and 80% conventional heavy fuel oil.

Valiant Lady bunkered the fuel on Sept. 24 and completed testing and burning on Oct. 16.

Throughout this trial, the shipboard team analyzed the fuel and engine performance during bunkering, storing and burning to ensure it met lab requirements and operational expectations.

'Incredibly promising'

'Completing our first sustainable fuel trial is incredibly promising; this is a near-term solution for the shipping and cruising industry,' said Jill Stoneberg, senior director of social impact and sustainability for Virgin Voyages. 'Sustainable, bio-based fuels can work with our existing engines today, and we could transition to these cleaner fuels now if they were more readily available and affordable. We’re encouraging our cruising counterparts to ask for and test these fuels as stronger demand will ultimately help accelerate the market.'

Some other cruise lines are already doing so including, recently, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International.

Like the rest of the industry, Virgin Voyages has pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, which is also a requirement of the International Maritime Organization.

Preparing for FuelEU implementation

In 2025, ships will be required to start using more sustainable fuels for a portion of its fuel demand to comply with the FuelEU maritime regulation.

Virgin Voyages is preparing for this shift and exploring how sustainable fuel adoption will accelerate its decarbonization strategy in the near term. The company said it also continues to advocate for robust sustainability standards for waste-based biofuels, such as RSB.

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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