Quadrise has entered a framework agreement with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company’s 100% subsidiary, MSC Shipmanagement Limited of Cyprus, for the testing of lower-carbon fuels on one or more container vessels.
As part of the deal, proof-of-concept (POC) tests and subsequent operational trials will be conducted using both bioMSAR and MSAR fuel on one or more container ships.
These tests are expected to support the commercial use of the fuels by MSC’s global fleet.
Expected to begin by the end of the year, the POC tests for bioMSAR and MSAR will be carried out on an MSC-owned vessel.
This vessel was used for an MSAR fuel demonstration on a 69MW two-stroke engine earlier in the year. The tests will be reliant on the ongoing availability of the vessel.
Based on positive results from the POC trials, subsequent operational trials with bioMSAR and MSAR will be carried out to support commercial operations.
The trials will also help to secure letters of no objection (LONOs) from the engine manufacturer following confirmation of the operational viability of bioMSAR and MSAR at both an interim and final stage.
Produced by Quadrise and purchased by MSC, around 25,000MT of fuel is estimated to be required for each of the trials.
Additionally, both firms will negotiate with other marine engine suppliers to test bioMSAR and MSAR on their engines in conjunction with the studies.
Quadrise CEO Jason Miles said: “MSC sets the standard for energy efficiency and biofuel use in the marine sector, and we believe that our bioMSAR and MSAR technology offers an excellent solution to accelerate their decarbonisation and emissions reduction efforts.”
In January last year, Quadrise first announced the joint development agreement with MSC Shipmangement of Cyprus to conduct MSAR operational trials on its commercial container vessels.
