In the Nordics, RoPax operator Viking Line vessels serving the Stockholm (Sweden) – Turku (Finland) route will reduce their fossil emissions by 90 percent when the company runs those vessels for the first time for an entire week solely on liquefied biomethane (bioLNG).
During the week, which kicked off on August 29, 2024 – Baltic Sea Day – Viking Line vessels Viking Glory and Viking Grace will demonstrate what the future could look like for the first green shipping corridor on the Baltic Sea.
The climate-smart Viking Glory and Viking Grace will only use liquefied biomethane (bioLNG) as fuel from August 29 to September 4, which will reduce the vessels’ fossil carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 90 percent compared to liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is normally used.
During the week, a total of about 2,600 fewer tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will be generated than when using LNG.
This is a historic moment for us, the Baltic Sea, and maritime transport. Scheduled service has never before been powered solely by biofuel. We have invested EUR 450 million in our climate-smart vessels Viking Grace and Viking Glory, and one of their most important features is that they can run on LNG, biofuel, and future synthetic fuels produced from renewable energy. Such significant environmental measures are the result of our long-term work, said Dani Lindberg, Sustainability Manager at Viking Line.
Consumers want sustainable options
For one year now, Viking Line has offered its passengers, conference, and cargo customers the option of purchasing biofuel corresponding to the amount of fuel used for their travel.
This reduces emissions by 90 percent per passenger or cargo unit.
Both consumers and corporate customers expect responsible conduct from us, and they themselves are prepared to take part in protecting the vulnerable nature of the Baltic Sea’s archipelagos. The number of trips using biofuel increased 500 percent immediately when we highlighted the option earlier in our booking system, Dani Lindberg said.
Normally, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is used on the Turku route, and this fuel has significantly lower nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions than the heavy fuel oil (HFO) traditionally used on vessels.
Both LNG and bioLNG (aka liquefied biogas – LBG) generate virtually no harmful sulfur (SOx) or particulate matter (PM) emissions.
Gasum fuel supplier
Viking Line’s biomethane (aka renewable natural gas – RNG) is supplied by Finland-headed gas and energy company Gasum Oy, which makes the fuel from food and agricultural waste.
The biomethane is produced in Europe, and the origin of each bioLNG consignment is clearly documented.
We have already operated Viking Grace using biogas on our Turku route, and passengers and cargo customers on Viking Glory and Viking Grace also already have the option to purchase biogas when they book their trip to offset the fuel used for their own travel and thus reduce the emissions for their trip by up to 90 percent. Now, for the first time, we are operating for a whole week using only biogas, which is unique. There is still limited access to renewable fuels, and the price for such fuels is at least twice as high compared to LNG. It is important to create demand in order for supply to rise and the price to fall, said Dani Lindberg.
Expand green shipping corridors
Viking Line is involved in efforts to develop a green sea corridor between Turku (Finland) and Stockholm (Sweden) and between Helsinki (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia).
These green corridors are routes where the transport of both cargo and passengers is carbon-neutral.
Emission reductions in maritime transport are regulated in part by the EU’s Fit for 55 program for a green transition and the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) as well as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) strategy for GHG emissions.
