The vessels involved are Apia Chief and Tonga Chief, operating on the Pacific Weekly Express (PWX) service with direct routes from Southeast Asia to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, and Fiji, and Kokopo Chief, serving the East Timor (ETS) service with regular calls between Singapore, Dili, Darwin, and Surabaya. These vessels will begin bunkering B24 in Singapore in the second quarter of 2025, transitioning to B30 thereafter.
Jeremy Sutton, Swire Shipping’s Chief Executive Officer, stated: “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.” The initiative reflects the company’s commitment to sustainable maritime operations.
The biofuel program involves collaboration with Argent Energy, a Swire Group sister company specializing in waste-based biofuels, and BP, a biofuel supplier in Singapore. This partnership explores new feedstocks for marine fuel, enhancing the group’s ability to deliver sustainable energy solutions. Louise Calviou, Argent Energy’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “This successful biofuel programme highlights what can be achieved through strong international partnerships, all united by the common goal of decarbonisation.”
Swire Shipping has also introduced the Voyage to Zero carbon abatement program, enabling customers to decarbonize their supply chains. Participating customers will receive independently verified certificates of emission savings, contributing to their Scope 3 emissions reduction goals. Susana Germino, Chief Sustainability & Energy Transition Officer, noted: “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 August 2024, Swire Shipping conducted a trial using B24 biofuel on the MV Suva Chief, a containership bunkered in Hong Kong in partnership with Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical and the Hafnia Bunker Alliance. This trial confirmed the operational viability of biofuels for long-term use on Swire’s vessels.
By adopting biofuel blends, Swire Shipping is advancing sustainable shipping practices, supporting cleaner maritime operations, and contributing to the environmental resilience of the South Pacific region.
