Notice on the use of biofuel and its blends issued by India

The Directorate General of Shipping, India has issued a merchant shipping notice on the use of biofuel and its blends on Indian ships.

Application

This notice, issued on 9 November 2023, pertains to:

i. Any Indian Ships engaged in maritime activities under the MS Act 1958, regardless of their involvement in coastal or international trade, and whether certified under RSV (as per DGS Order No.18 of 2013) or ICV (as per DGS Order No.1 of 2014), with the intention of utilizing biofuel or its blends as a fuel source.
ii. All bunker suppliers officially registered with the Government of India in accordance with Annex VI, Regulation 18 of MARPOL, who plan to supply biofuels or their blends to either Indian ships or foreign ships within Indian waters.

Biofuel Definition

Biofuel, under MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.6, is a biomass-derived fuel oil, including processed used cooking oils, FAME, FAEE, SVO, HVO, glycerol, or other BTL products.

Biofuel Supply to Ships

Specifications align with commercial agreements, meeting ISO 8217 standards and specific guidelines for FAME, HVO, and other biofuels.

Fuel properties should match OEM recommendations.

BDN and Certification

BDN details include flashpoint, sustainability certification (e.g., ISCC, RSB), and essential test results.

After six months, additional tests cover FAME percentage, corrosion, and sediment wax precipitation. Carbon factor calculation follows specific guidelines.

Approval of Bunker Suppliers

Existing approved suppliers can offer biofuels with quality control procedures, verified during annual audits by the International Register of Shipping (IRS).

Risk Assessment by Ship Owner/Manager

Vessel-specific risk analysis, redundancy measures, OEM consultation, and compatibility assessments are crucial for safe biofuel use.

Approval by Recognized Organization

Recognized organizations can certify ships for biofuel use, contingent on compliance.

Required documents cover ship details, biofuel specifications, risk assessment, fuel system arrangements, and operational procedures.

NOx Certification

NOx certification depends on biofuel blend volume and its impact on engine components.

The RO issues short-term IAPP certificates for trials, followed by full-term certificates upon satisfactory results.

Certificate Issuance and Annual Verification

The RO issues a certificate based on submissions and inspections. Annual verification includes fuel consumption and Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) assessment, aligning with Merchant Shipping Notice 07 of 2021.

The biofuel blend ratio is part of the report.

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):