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• 2 min de lectura
The Steamship Authority, in Massachusetts, received its first shipment of renewable diesel fuel, as it expanded testing of its use on its largest vessel, the MV Island Home.
The fuel, known as R99, is chemically identical to the ultra-low sulfur marine diesel currently used by the Authority, but is made from recently regenerated biomass. It can be used interchangeably with traditional diesel without engine modification and can be blended with it without incident.
According to a comprehensive analysis of the fuel, which includes raw material production and transportation, fuel production and distribution, and the use of the finished fuel, R99 produces a minimum 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over its life cycle, and up to 78%, depending on the raw materials used.
This fuel has been used with great success on the West Coast for a long time. The Authority first tested R99 in the summer of 2025 with positive results, but supply chain issues and increased costs made its continued use difficult.
After collaborating with Diesel Direct, the Authority's fuel supplier, an alternative source was identified, and the Board authorized an additional testing period until December 31, 2026. Up to 750,000 liters of this fuel will be purchased with a surcharge of USD 165,000 during this period for use on the MV Island Home vessel, which serves the Woods Hole-Martha's Vineyard route. The service also reaches Nantucket.
"Our initial test with R99 was extremely positive, so it is important that we continue to conduct trials with this biodiesel under different operating conditions and evaluate its effectiveness. The additional cost associated with this fuel will have to be included in the cost of our operations if its use expands, but we have a responsibility to our port communities to explore this possibility," stated Alex Kryska, General Manager of the Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority.
The manufacturers of all engines used in the Authority's fleet have endorsed the use of R99, including John Deere, EMD, and Caterpillar.
