In a significant step toward reducing maritime emissions in the Pacific, Swire Shipping has announced the launch of its first biofuel-powered services to the South Pacific Islands. This initiative, which involves the use of 2nd generation biofuels, marks a pivotal moment in the company’s decarbonisation roadmap and a notable development in regional bunkering strategy.
The shipping company, a prominent operator in the Asia-Pacific maritime sector, has begun bunkering B24 and B30 biofuel blends on three of its vessels. These blends, composed of 24% and 30% biofuel respectively, are derived from sustainable, waste-based feedstocks and are part of Swire Shipping’s voluntary efforts to cut emissions.
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Three Vessels Transition to Biofuel
The vessels Apia Chief and Tonga Chief, which operate on Swire’s Pacific Weekly Express (PWX) service, and the Kokopo Chief, deployed on the East Timor Service (ETS), are the first to join this initiative. The PWX service makes direct calls from Southeast Asia to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, and Fiji, while the ETS connects Singapore, Dili, Darwin, and Surabaya on a 10-day rotation.
These ships will first bunker B24 biofuel in Singapore during Q2 2025 before transitioning to B30 blends on subsequent voyages to the South Pacific.
A Strategic Sustainability Initiative
Swire Shipping’s Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Sutton, emphasized the importance of sustainability in maritime operations, particularly for vulnerable island nations facing the direct impacts of climate change.
“At Swire Shipping, we are committed to reducing our environmental footprint and contributing to a more sustainable future,” Sutton said. “The island nations of the South Pacific are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and this move marks an important step in our ongoing efforts to reduce emissions and support a cleaner, greener shipping industry.”
Partnership with Argent Energy and BP
This biofuel programme is the result of a collaboration between Swire Shipping and Argent Energy, a fellow Swire Group company and a recognized producer of waste-based biofuels. The initiative also includes an agreement with BP, one of the major suppliers of biofuel in Singapore, to explore new marine fuel feedstocks and scale future adoption.
Louise Calviou, CEO of Argent Energy, praised the inter-company and cross-sector collaboration, stating:
“This successful biofuel programme highlights what can be achieved through strong international partnerships, all united by the common goal of decarbonisation. It has been especially rewarding to work alongside our sister company and other partners to accelerate the use of waste-derived biofuels.”
‘Voyage to Zero’ – Customer Carbon Abatement Programme
In conjunction with the biofuel launch, Swire Shipping is rolling out a carbon abatement initiative titled “Voyage to Zero.” This programme is designed to assist cargo owners and logistics partners in meeting their Scope 3 emissions targets, offering independently verified emissions reduction certificates for participating customers.
Swire’s Chief Sustainability & Energy Transition Officer, Susana Germino, highlighted the broader impact of the initiative:
“Swire Shipping has ambitious voluntary targets for reduction of emissions by 2027. The biofuel programme is a significant milestone in our decarbonisation roadmap, and with Voyage to Zero we are able to offer greater support to customers looking to decarbonise their supply chains. In this first year, the impact of the programme will be comparable to removing 2,700 cars from the road.”
Background: Successful B24 Biofuel Trial
This move follows Swire’s successful B24 biofuel trial in August 2024, which tested operational compatibility and performance of second-generation biofuels on its owned fleet. The outcomes of that trial laid the foundation for broader adoption.
About Swire Shipping
Swire Shipping, headquartered in Singapore, is the deep-sea ship owning and operating arm of the Swire Group. The company delivers high-frequency liner services across the Asia-Pacific region, transpacific trade between North Asia and the Pacific Northwest, and project logistics under the Swire Projects brand. It specializes in the transport of heavy lift, breakbulk, refrigerated, and mini bulk cargoes, supported by a global agency network and regional offices across Asia-Pacific, the Pacific Islands, North America, and Europe.
Source Swire Shipping