September 17, 2025 – In a landmark move for the global maritime fuel sector, Wasaline and Neste have joined forces to deploy Neste MY Renewable Diesel™ aboard the Aurora Botnia — a cutting-edge hybrid ferry operating on the Vaasa (Finland)–Umeå (Sweden) route. This initiative establishes the corridor as the world’s first internationally recognized Green Shipping Corridor under the Green Shipping Programme (GSP) coordinated by DNV.
This development is more than symbolic — it sets a precedent for scalable, real-world decarbonization in one of the industry’s most challenging operating environments.
The Aurora Botnia, already lauded as one of the world’s most eco-efficient ferries, operates on biogas, battery-electric propulsion, and multi-fuel Wärtsilä engines. The integration of Neste’s premium winter-grade renewable diesel — used as a pilot ignition fuel — enables even further reduction in lifecycle GHG emissions by up to 90% compared to fossil diesel.
What sets Neste MY Renewable Diesel apart is its chemical similarity to traditional diesel, allowing seamless use in existing diesel engines without modifications, retrofitting, or CAPEX investment.
Operating year-round across the icy Kvarken strait, Wasaline’s fleet demands fuel performance even in temperatures as low as -32°C. Neste’s winter-grade renewable diesel ensures reliable cold-weather operability, demonstrating the technical viability of renewable drop-in fuels under harsh maritime conditions — a key concern for bunkering suppliers operating in sub-zero regions.
Peter Ståhlberg, CEO of Wasaline, emphasized the critical role of Neste MY Renewable Diesel in their emission reduction strategy “Neste MY Renewable Diesel brings a decisive element to our strategy for reducing emissions. Thanks to its near-identical chemical properties to fossil diesel, we implemented it aboard the Aurora Botnia without hesitation or delay.”
Joni Pihlström, Head of B2B Sales for Finland and the Baltics at Neste, highlighted the broader implications for climate action in shipping “The maritime industry can’t afford to wait. Renewable diesel is a proven, scalable solution — compatible with today’s infrastructure and engines — that delivers immediate carbon reductions.”
Neste’s My Renewable Diesel is fully compliant with EU Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III), meeting stringent sustainability and lifecycle carbon reduction benchmarks — a crucial advantage as regulators globally ramp up emissions targets in line with IMO 2023 and forthcoming FuelEU Maritime requirements.
With planned production capacity reaching 6.8 million tonnes annually by 2027, Neste’s renewable products are positioned for global scale, offering bunkering providers a credible pathway to meet customer demand for low-emission marine fuels.
For maritime industry, the Wasaline-Neste collaboration signals a critical inflection point. Renewable diesel is no longer a future aspiration — it is a current operational reality.
As pressure mounts to decarbonize across fleets not yet ready for full electrification or hydrogen, renewable drop-in fuels represent a key transitional step.
The successful deployment in an international ferry corridor sets a replicable model for ports, operators, and fuel providers worldwide — particularly in short sea shipping and RoPax operations, where fuel reliability, cold weather performance, and cost-efficiency are non-negotiable.
Wasaline is the northernmost shipping line in the world, operating the Vaasa (Finland) – Umeå (Sweden) route. The company carries both freight and passengers, providing a critical link for cross-border logistics and regional supply chains. Its hybrid ferry, Aurora Botnia, is powered by dual-fuel engines and batteries and is fully certified under the Key Flag Symbol for Finnish services.
Neste is a global leader in renewable fuels, refining waste and residue raw materials into sustainable jet fuel and diesel alternatives. With production facilities spanning three continents, Neste is scaling its renewable product capacity to an ambitious 6.8 million tons annually by 2027.
The company’s strong sustainability commitments have earned it multiple accolades in leading global ESG and sustainability indices. With a 2024 revenue of EUR 20.6 billion, Neste continues to drive the energy transition by enabling clients to achieve substantial carbon reductions through innovative, drop-in fuel solutions.
