Marine survey vessels and road vehicles operated by Ocean Ecology will use Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as the preferred fuel option after the company invested in fuel bunkering and transfer facilities at the vessels’ base in Gloucester. A second HVO facility is being fitted at the company’s facilities in Plymouth.
The decision to make the transition from ‘mineral diesel’ to HVO as our fuel of choice was taken to further improve operational sustainability after diesel was confirmed as one of the company’s biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. HVO has significant environmental benefits, including
- Reduced Emissions: HVO offers significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional diesel fuels.
- Cleaner Air: Using HVO also produces fewer NOX emissions and harmful particulates, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment. Reduction of diesel use by vessels also reduces harmful local emissions with positive consequences for the crew.
- Enhanced Performance: HVO’s superior combustion properties ensure improved engine performance, delivering reliability and efficiency in road transport and marine survey operations. In practice, this means smoother voyages, improved fuel economy and reduced maintenance costs.
- Regulatory Compliance: As environmental regulations tighten worldwide, compliance is non-negotiable for maritime businesses. By using HVO, Ocean Ecology is staying ahead of the curve in both meeting and surpassing emissions standards.
- Futureproofing: Investing in sustainable practices today is an investment in the future. By using HVO, Ocean Ecology is future-proofing its operations, aligning with evolving environmental expectations and positioning itself as a leader in the maritime industry.
One drawback is that HVO remains more expensive than diesel. However, a green fuel levy is being proposed to clients in projects featuring nearshore survey vessels when they run on the new fuel. And a significant benefit to those clients who opt for HVO is that it will help them further reduce their own scope 3 emissions.
“For us, HVO was the obvious alternative to diesel once there was sufficient certainty in the supply chain and that time has arrived,” said Ocean Ecology’s Head of Survey Ashley Kirby.
“There are still some logistical and cost challenges to overcome to make the full transition to HVO possible but the feedback so far from our clients has been positive.”
Other measures are being taken to reduce the use of diesel after a carbon assessment, undertaken by the company for benchmarking its emissions, identified diesel as a major source of greenhouse gases.
Hybridisation of the company’s 12m survey vessel, Argyll Explorer, is under way (more news on this to follow) while hydrogen injection systems have already been installed in both Seren Las and Argyll Explorer.
These systems work by injecting small volumes of hydrogen into the engines during use and are expected to reduce fuel consumption by at least 5% with the subsequent reduction in the wear of components and benefits for maintenance and the company’s carbon footprint.
“While switching to HVO is by no means the end of the journey, it is another important step for Ocean Ecology towards net zero along with other initiatives, such as installation of solar panels and electric battery storage at our Gloucester site,” said Compliance and Audit Manager Robyn Black.
“We have made a pledge to Race to Zero via the Network Net Zero Community. That means achieving net zero as a business no later than 2050 and reaching a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030, in line with the targets set out by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC ).”
If you’d like to learn more about our implementation of HVO and how we’re working towards net zero, contact Robyn Black.
