German freight forwarder, DB Schenker, has signed an agreement with MSC for the use of 12,000 metric tonnes of biofuel components for all of DB Schenker’s consolidated cargo, less-than-container load (LCL), full-container-load (FCL) and reefer containers.
This agreement sets out the use of sustainable, second-generation biofuels, instead of conventional fossil-based marine fuel.
The 12,000 metric tonnes of biofuel component will be blended between 20 per cent and 30 per cent, resulting in approximately 50,000 metric tonnes of blended biofuel to be used in MSC’s container ships.
The agreement allows DB Schenker to offer its customers a product that enables net-zero ocean transportation.
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This deal represents one of the largest carbon-insetting biofuel deals ever signed between a freight forwarder and a shipping company.
The amount of biofuel purchased is enough to save an additional 35,000 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalents along the entire production chain in the market.
The equivalent of around 30,000 standard containers may be shipped with net-zero CO2 emissions, depending on how the fuel is used during navigation.
“Together with MSC, we are offering our customers a convenient and clean solution using the latest generation of marine biofuel to help them achieve a real additional reduction in their emissions,” said Global Board Member for Air & Ocean Freight at DB Schenker, Thorsten Meincke.
Senior Vice President of MSC, Caroline Becquart, said: “Decarbonising ocean freight cannot be achieved by a single player and requires collaboration between shipping and logistics companies and their customers.”
“MSC Biofuel Solution is our first certified carbon insetting programme that reduces emissions in our customers’ supply chains, accelerating the energy transition by creating demand for net zero carbon shipping and delivering direct CO2 savings,” Becquart added.
In 2019, DB Schenker also partnered up with shipping giant, Maersk.
