Van Oord has begun testing the use of ultra low-sulphur biofuel in its fleet of vessels, the company said in a recent press release.
The trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) HAM 316 is the the first in the Van Oord fleet to utilise the alternative fuel, which the company claims can reduce carbon emissions by as much as 40 per cent compared to conventional marine fuels.
HAM 316 has sailed from Rotterdam to Cuxhaven in Germany and has begun work on a dredging project on the Elbe River as part of the biofuel tests.
The fuel being used is made from waste products such as cooking oil. The local emissions of the vessel will be measured during the dredging work and the engine will be inspected after completion.
The tests, which are conducted in collaboration with Shell, will indicate whether the fuel can be used in practice in other existing vessels in the Van Oord fleet.