The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) announced on September 15 that they will test navigate international container ships filled partially with bio marine fuel starting today and throughout the first half of 2024.

The first test navigation vessel is HMM’s Hyundai Tacoma leaving Busan on September 15 at 8 p.m. heading for Paranaguá, Brazil, 30 percent of its fuel filled with biodiesel supplied by GS Caltex. The plan is to launch five or more test navigations using not only biodiesel but also biofuel oil.

The test navigation is a part of a follow-up measure to the Biofuel Demonstration Plan formed during the third general meeting of the public-private joint Eco-Friendly Biofuel Activation Alliance held on June 28, involving numerous meetings among relevant ministries, associations and companies, such as Korea Bio-Energy Association (KBEA) and HD Hyundai Global Service, to select navigation routes and determine procedures for refueling.

MOTIE’s Resources Industry Policy Director General Yoo Beob-min stated that “the data obtained through the test navigation of international container ships will be utilized in establishing bio marine fuel quality standards and related laws, and the Government will make effort to foster a favorable climate for companies to invest in eco-friendly biofuel.”