Citrosuco has carried out the first long-haul voyage of its fleet using B24 biodiesel, marking a shift toward renewable fuel use in its shipping operations. The initiative began with the vessel MV Carlos Fischer, which underwent technical upgrades in Tuzla, Turkey. The ship, measuring 205 meters in length and 32 meters in width, has the capacity to transport 32,000 tons of orange juice.
After leaving Turkey, the vessel arrived at the Port of Santos, Brazil, carrying the first 500 tons of B24 biodiesel in its fuel tanks. The vessel has since departed on its next route to the United States.
B24 biodiesel is considered a viable option for reducing emissions in maritime transport. It can lower well-to-wake emissions, measured across the entire life cycle of the fuel, by up to 20%. The use of this fuel also aligns with international standards, including the IMO's 2030 and 2050 emission targets, the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), and the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI).
Following this first use of biodiesel, Citrosuco intends to gradually expand the practice across its entire fleet, which currently consists of five dedicated vessels and one chartered ship.
The company has also implemented other projects linked to reducing emissions. One example is its port terminal in Ghent, Belgium, the second largest in terms of operational volume, which now runs entirely on renewable, certified energy.
According to the company, its broader strategy includes reducing carbon emissions by 28% by 2030 in scopes 1 and 2. It has also reported its CO₂ inventories for more than 10 years under the GHG Protocol, verified by third-party audits.
Source: DatamarNews