Holland America Testing 100% Low Carbon Intensity Biofuel

Holland America Cruise Line's ship Rotterdam has initiated a trial using 100% low carbon intensity biofuel this season while cruising through Norwegian fjords. Prior to its departure from the Port of Rotterdam on April 27th, the ship was fueled with biofuel provided by GoodFuels and supplied by FincoEnergiers.

During this testing phase, Rotterdam will operate one of its four engines on certified biofuel as it navigates through Norway's Geirangerfjord and Naeroyfjord. This biofuel usage is projected to achieve an 86% reduction in life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions.

This follows a previous trial by Holland America Cruise Line aboard the Volendam, which, in August and September 2022, initially used a 70-30 mix of biofuel and marine gas oil in its auxiliary engines for five days. For the subsequent 15 days, the Volendam switched to using 100% sustainable biofuel, resulting in a 78% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional marine gas oil.

As a part of the Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line is pioneering the use of 100% biofuel for extended shipping operations. In a similar venture, Carnival’s German line, Aida, tested biofuels on its cruise ship Aidaprima in 2022.

The trend is catching on in the wider maritime industry as well. In 2022, Royal Caribbean Group began biofuel trials and continued into the summer of 2023 with sustainable biofuel blends on the Symphony of the Seas, sailing from Barcelona. This series of tests culminated in 12 consecutive weeks of biofuel trials in Europe, marking a significant step in Royal Caribbean's shift towards biofuels.

Celebrity Cruises also conducted sustainable biofuel tests on Celebrity Apex departing from Rotterdam. These trials have proven successful; however, the broader adoption of biofuel in the shipping industry remains challenged by its limited availability.