Biofuels on board: How World Fuel is supplying the next route to decarbonization

FuelEU Maritime and the EU ETS are proving to be transformative regulatory instruments. Alongside the IMO greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction strategy and sector-led initiatives like the Poseidon Principles and Sea Cargo Charter, these climate change catalysts drive an increasingly urgent demand for lower-carbon fuels.

Biofuels derived from waste and residue feedstocks, such as used cooking oil or food waste, have emerged as ready and expedient decarbonization options, offering reduced combustion emissions while also being compatible with existing vessel infrastructure and engine technologies. However, there are several important factors to consider when choosing biofuel as a route to compliance, including feedstock type, cost, availability, quality control, and on-board fuel management.

As an increasing number of shipowners turn to drop-in biofuel blends to support their compliance strategies, World Fuel is committed to ensuring that fuel buyers and fleet operators have access to reliable, certified, and high-quality biofuels at prime locations worldwide. This article provides a concise overview of marine biofuels and addresses key considerations surrounding their role in the maritime energy transition.

Operational and technical considerations

Biofuels offer an immediate and practical solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enabling shipowners to decarbonize without the need for extensive vessel modifications. Two of the most widely used biofuels in maritime applications are Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), each offering distinct advantages. HVO, in particular, closely mirrors the properties of fossil diesel, making it a highly compatible drop-in alternative that supports smooth operational integration with minimal adjustments. While FAME can require more proactive fuel management due to risks like oxidation, microbial growth, and material compatibility, both fuels represent important tools in the industry’s energy transition—delivering measurable emissions reductions and advancing sustainability goals today.

While the introduction of biofuels to an operator’s fuel mix may cause an owner to proceed with caution, there are proven, established practices already in place to lessen the novelty factor and manage some of the complexities associated with lower carbon fuels.  For biofuels, rigorous fuel quality monitoring, compatibility assessments, and proactive fuel management are critical to ensuring safe handling and optimal performance — particularly in addressing challenges such as oxidation stability, microbial growth, and material compatibility. However, the successful implementation of these best practices relies not only on the vessel owner but also on the fuel supplier, whose role is critical in safeguarding fuel quality, meeting compliance standards and operational reliability.

Realizing the full potential of biofuels in the maritime sector depends on strong collaboration with suppliers to ensure long term availability, particularly as demand and feedstock competition from aviation and road transport continues to grow. Through government support and incentive programs, ports such as Rotterdam and Singapore are leading the way in biofuel supply adoption and playing a crucial role in making low carbon fuels accessible to the maritime sector.

One of the biggest challenges for the shipping industry is securing sustainable biofuel supply at scale,” says Mark Tamsitt, Senior Vice President, Marine, World Fuel. “We work closely with fuel suppliers and regulators to ensure our customers have access to compliant, high-quality biofuels wherever they operate.

Meeting new regulations: FuelEU Maritime, EU ETS, and the role of standards and certification

FuelEU Maritime came into effect in January 2025. It mandates reductions in the GHG intensity of the energy used onboard large vessels, with the aim to accelerate the use of cleaner marine fuels. At the same time, the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), introduced to the maritime sector in 2024, is a carbon pricing mechanism aimed at setting limits on GHG emissions with a “polluter pays” approach. Both regulations incentivize the use of lower carbon energy sources, making sustainable biofuels more economically attractive for compliance and cost reduction.

The release of ISO 8217:2024 also marks a critical step forward in accelerating the adoption of biofuels in maritime transport, offering shipowners greater confidence that biofuel blends meet rigorous quality specifications tailored specifically for marine applications. The new RF-grade parameters in ISO 8217:2024 address the allowance of FAME up to 100% and provide strict standards for stability, acidity, and compatibility, reducing risks from engine deposits, corrosion, and fuel degradation while supporting long-term fuel transition planning by aligning biofuels with established marine quality benchmarks.

Sustainability certification plays a key role in aligning regulatory expectations. Biofuels supplied to the maritime sector are expected to be certified under schemes such as the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), which verifies that fuels meet high environmental and traceability standards. World Fuel supports this requirement not only by sourcing ISCC-compliant fuels but also through its own internal certification scheme, designed to assure clients that every supplied biofuel meets stringent sustainability, traceability, and emissions criteria.

Standards provide much-needed clarity for shipowners adopting biofuels, but compliance still requires rigorous testing and certification,” says Tamsitt. “Our expertise in fuel quality management helps customers handle these new requirements with confidence.

Case study: B100 Biofuel trial on car carrier

A strong example of how World Fuel supports the maritime industry’s transition to biofuels is a recent B100 biofuel trial conducted on a car carrier vessel. World Fuel supplied the fuel at Zeebrugge, Belgium, prior to the vessel’s voyage to the Far East. The trial demonstrated an 80–90% reduction in CO₂ emissions—equivalent to approximately 190 tonnes of carbon abated—without requiring any modifications to the ship’s engine. This successful proof of concept underscores the viability of biofuels as a commercially practical solution for maritime decarbonization. Notably, the fuel had been stored for two months before use, with no performance issues.

This trial builds on earlier experiences with lower biofuel blends, such as B24 (24% biofuel blend) used on bulk carriers, reflecting a growing industry familiarity with biofuels as a key component of shipping’s energy transition.

World Fuel’s commitment to low-carbon solutions and trusted expertise

World Fuel is actively advancing the maritime energy transition by establishing a robust ISCC and RSB-certified biofuel supply chain across strategic global ports, ensuring owners have dependable access to high-quality, compliant biofuels supported by technical and regulatory expertise. Through integrated relationships with vetted producers and ongoing investments in sourcing, storage, and quality assurance, we are committed to expanding shipowners’ options for lower carbon fuels.

As such, World Fuel integrates deep technical knowledge with extensive fuel and energy expertise to deliver comprehensive marine fuel solutions. This combined capability enables us to guide shipowners through the complexities of biofuel adoption, ensuring they receive products that meet stringent quality specifications and recognized sustainability certification standards.

The path forward: Why shipowners should act now

Biofuels represent a vital pathway in the maritime sector’s decarbonization efforts. As regulatory frameworks grow more stringent and customer expectations for sustainable energy solutions continue to rise, fuel buyers must adopt strategic, compliance-aligned approaches that balance environmental objectives with operational feasibility.

Biofuels will play a crucial role in the energy transition, but success depends on secure supply chains and rigorous quality assurance,” says Tamsitt. “World Fuel is committed to helping shipowners source and use biofuels effectively, ensuring long-term compliance and operational efficiency.

For shipowners and bunker buyers looking to integrate biofuels into their fuel mix, working with World Fuel ensures access to a dependable global supply network, regulatory expertise, and quality assurance.