Finland-headed oil refiner and renewable products major Neste Oyj has announced that it is partnering with PTL Marine to provide its "Neste MY Renewable Diesel" to the marine sector across the State of California.
PTL Marine, a division of Pilot Thomas Logistics, is a leading provider of maritime fuel and lubricants, supplies, and last-mile logistics.
Through this collaboration, the state’s marine industry will have easier access to renewable diesel.
New regulation in force
Ports are important for the US economy, but port-related emissions from fossil fuel use impact public health and the climate, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A California Air Resources Board (CARB) research found that renewable diesel when compared with fossil diesel, can provide up to a 26.6 percent reduction in fine PM emissions and up to 11.8 percent reduction in the emissions of NOx in harbor crafts equipped with a Tier 2 marine-certified engine.
California’s Commercial Harbor Craft (CHC) regulation, established by the CARB, took effect on January 1, 2023.
This regulation requires commercial harbor craft vessels in the state to use renewable diesel (also known locally as R99 or R100) instead of ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD), to limit emissions such as particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) for vessels operating in the state’s ports and near the coast.
The regulation applies to the use of on-water diesel fuels in California harbors, ports, navigable waterways, marinas, and marine navigation districts.
Our partnership with PTL Marine demonstrates renewable diesel’s wide range of applications in the heavy-duty sectors. We are excited to see California actively encouraging the use of renewable diesel outside of road transportation to reduce emissions, especially from older engines. With strategic partners like PTL Marine, we look forward to helping California’s marine industry have easier access to this more sustainable alternative, said Carrie Song, VP of Renewable Road Transportation, Americas at Neste.
Available now solution
Additionally, renewable diesel is an immediately available solution to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Made from sustainably sourced, 100 percent renewable raw materials, the use of Neste MY Renewable Diesel results in up to 75 percent reduced GHG emissions over its life cycle compared to fossil diesel.
Since Neste MY Renewable Diesel has a similar chemical composition to fossil diesel, it can be used as a drop-in solution in all diesel-powered vessels without investments into new vehicle fleets, modifications to the engines, or the fuel distribution infrastructure.
It also delivers strong performance and meets all of the CARB requirements, including a flash point of 140ºF or greater.
Last-mile logistics
With decades of experience in providing fuels and lubricants to marine customers, PTL Marine can deliver Neste MY Renewable Diesel to customers in a timely manner with three modes of delivery – truck to the vessel, dockside services, and barge to the vessel.
These various delivery modes enable a range of harbor craft, from small ferries to large commercial fishing boats, as well as offshore working boats and large cargo ships to easily access renewable fuel.
We are pleased to be working alongside Neste to deliver a high-quality, reliable supply of renewable diesel for our West Coast customers. Partnering with a company that shares our values and embodies our commitment to innovation makes this an exciting partnership, said Steven Taylor, Business Development Manager, PTL Marine.
