The 85m x 15m Whitchampion has become the first bunker tanker certified to load, carry and blend fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) B100 on board, according to classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR). The 2003-built vessel, operated by UK-based John H. Whitaker (Tankers), secured this certification from LR on behalf of the Isle of Man Flag Administration, and under the International Bulk Chemical (IBC) Code and MARPOL Annex II regulations.
As a result, Whitchampion’s personnel can now perform onboard blending of biofuels with petroleum distillates and residual fuel oils within UK coastal waters. LR comments: “Bunker tankers certified under MARPOL Annex I are limited to carrying blends [of] no more than 30% FAME under IMO regulations. Oil fuels with higher bio-content fall under the IBC Code and MARPOL Annex II, typically requiring full chemical tanker status. That regulation has, in effect, frozen out a significant portion of the conventional bunker tanker fleet from supporting mid-to-high-range biofuel blending.
“Whitchampion is the first LR-classed vessel to bridge that gap. Through comprehensive gap analysis and risk assessment against the IBC Code and MARPOL Annex II requirements, LR developed an approach which involved mitigation of the assessed risks. This led to obtaining waivers/exemptions from the flag administration, allowing this Annex I bunker tanker to gain chemical certification to carry FAME as cargo, without needing to convert to full chemical tanker status.”
A second Whitaker tanker, Whitchallenger, will undergo a similar approval process, with certification anticipated later this year, LR adds.
