Bureau Veritas (BV) has released a new BIOFUEL READY notation to support the wider deployment of biofuels in the shipping industry.
The notation aims at helping shipowners to be prepared for the use of biofuels or biofuel blends. It provides a set of requirements, and outlines a comprehensive methodology for the required documentation and testing, taking into account the fuel’s technical specifications.
The BIOFUEL READY notation certifies that the conditions to use biofuel onboard a ship have been successfully met – and any testing to check NOx emissions (if applicable) has been completed satisfactorily. The notation can be applied to both new and existing ships.
Bureau Veritas expects that this new notation will enable shipowners to take advantage of their preliminary work with the use of biofuels, while also helping them to be prepared in order to obtain Flag Administration acceptance with regards to MARPOL Annex VI requirements on NOx emissions. The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 78) has approved an interpretation of regulation 18.3 of MARPOL Annex VI aimed at clarifying and streamlining the use of biofuels in the maritime industry. This interpretation has now been included in a further revision of /Circ.795 (/Rev.6), which has been recently published by the IMO.
The new notation was developed in collaboration with different maritime stakeholders, including ship owners and engine manufacturers.
