HJ Heavy Industries has received approval in principle from the Korean Register of Shipping for a 10,000-TEU container ship that runs on biofuel. The ship uses marine biofuel made from plant and animal oils blended with conventional marine fuel. The certification was signed at the Posidonia exhibition in Greece. The move responds to tighter carbon emission rules from the International Maritime Organization and the European Union. HJ Heavy Industries worked with the Korean Register since last year to develop the biofuel propulsion system for this vessel size. The company says it aims to strengthen its competitiveness as demand for eco-friendly ships grows. Biofuel is one of several alternative fuels being tested for maritime decarbonization. It can be used in existing engine designs with limited modifications, which may help accelerate adoption compared to ammonia or hydrogen. The key question is whether supply of sustainable biofuel feedstocks can scale to meet global shipping demand.
