The Hamburg Fleet, operating within the Port of Hamburg, is conducting a pilot project using HVO 100 (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) as a sustainable marine fuel. This biofuel, derived from waste food materials and free of palm oil, complies with EU RED II standards and is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80%. Three vessels, Hafenkapitän, Deepenschriewer III, and Neßsand, are part of the trial, with Hafenkapitän becoming the first non-electric ship in the fleet to operate nearly CO₂-neutrally.
This initiative reflects Hamburg’s ongoing commitment to maritime sustainability, following earlier trials with synthetic GTL fuels. The fleet views HVO 100 as a practical interim solution for decarbonizing inland waterway vessels, requiring no major technical modifications.
The project could serve as a model for other ports seeking to reduce their environmental footprint through alternative fuels.
SOURCE: PORT TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
