PARIS, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Container shipping group CMA CGM
is to increase its use of sustainable marine bio-fuel oil
through a supply deal with Royal Dutch Shell, following
a pilot scheme this year with furniture retailer IKEA.
Shell is to supply CMA CGM with several tens of thousands of
tonnes of fuel consisting of 80% low-sulphur fuel oil and 20%
biofuel, the companies said in a statement.
The biofuel component would come from recycled cooking oil,
they said.
The new fuel would allow an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions and virtually eliminate sulphur oxide emissions, they
added.
Shell had already started supplying the biofuel to CMA CGM,
the shipping firm added.
The supply deal followed a biofuel test conducted this year
by CMA CGM and IKEA on container ships.
Shipping companies are facing a January deadline to comply
with stricter global limits on sulphur emissions, and are also
under pressure to cut their carbon footprint.
Firms have been adopting low-sulphur fuel oil, while also
looking at other fuels including gas and fitting filters to
reduce sulphur emissions from standard heavy fuel oil.
French-based CMA CGM, the world's fourth-largest container
line, has ordered around a dozen giant vessels to be powered by
liquefied natural gas and partnered with energy group Total
to develop LNG refuelling.
(Reporting by Gus Trompiz; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)