Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation (Yang Ming) said it is beginning to fuel its fleet with sustainable biofuel starting this year.

This initiative aims to implement the company's sustainable development strategy, achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and provide low-carbon transportation services to customers.

In a statement, Yang Ming said YM Together, an 11,000-TEU container ship, recently became the first foreign-flagged vessel in South Korea to bunker biofuel, marking the company's steady progress in sustainable development and energy transition.

In collaboration with KPI OceanConnect, a marine energy supplier, YM Together, currently serving the Trans-Pacific route PN3, bunkered the B30 HSFO biofuel at Pusan Port in South Korea on June 26.

Yang Ming said this type of biofuel is a blend comprising used cooking oil (UCO) made of native plants and traditional high-sulfur fuel oil (HSFO), which complies with ISO 8217 and meets International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) standards.

This biofuel also meets the green fuel standards of the FuelEU Maritime Initiative, reducing up to 25% of GHG emissions than do conventional marine fuels.

Apart from biofuel, onboard facilities such as scrubbers and shore power systems (AMP) enable YM Together to effectively cut GHG emissions and offer customers transport services that are sustainable and environmentally friendly.

"The addition of Pusan port as a biofuel bunkering port in Asia increases flexibility in bunkering options for different routes, which in turn helps Yang Ming to expand the use of biofuel," the carrier said in the statement.

It added that in the meantime, the company is providing biofuel usage data requested by a publicly-owned local research institute in South Korea, hoping to accelerate the sustainable goal of energy transition in the industry by sharing practical experiences and contributing to academic research. 

In response to the impact of global climate change, Yang Ming said it is also carrying out various energy-saving measures in its operations to improve the fleet's energy efficiency.

These measures include retrofitting existing ships for energy efficiency, adopting smart technology to enhance onboard energy monitoring, using weather routing systems to optimize routes and reduce fuel consumption, and fitting vessels with AMP systems for shore power.

In 2023, Yang Ming's fleet reduced carbon intensity by 61.86% compared to the baseline year of 2008, achieving the IMO's goal of a 40% reduction by 2030 ahead of time.

"Looking forward, Yang Ming will continue using ISCC-certified biofuel to cap its total yearly GHG emissions, reduce the pressure of carbon emissions on customers and the entire supply chains, and sail towards the net-zero goal of maritime transport," the ocean carrier said.