In a first for its South Pacific operations, Singapore’s Swire Shipping has unveiled a pioneering biofuel initiative: three of its chief vessels will soon run on advanced waste-based biofuels, sharply cutting greenhouse gas emissions on one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable trade routes. Beginning in Q2 2025, the Apia Chief and Tonga Chief—key links on the Pacific Weekly Express (PWX) service—and the Kokopo Chief on the East Timor (ETS) service will bunker B24 blends in Singapore before upgrading to B30 as they call at Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Fiji, Dili, Darwin and Surabaya.
Why Biofuels Matter in the Pacific
The low-lying atolls and coral archipelagos of the South Pacific rank among the regions most threatened by rising seas, stronger cyclones and coastal erosion. Shipping, responsible for about 2.5 percent of global CO₂ emissions, plays an outsized role in island-nation supply chains—and in their carbon footprints. By switching from conventional fossil marine fuels to B24 (24 percent second-generation biodiesel) and ultimately B30 blends, Swire Shipping anticipates up to a 15 percent reduction in tail-pipe carbon emissions—one of the largest voluntary biofuel trials undertaken on this scale in the region.
Second-Generation Biofuels: From Waste to Propulsion
Unlike first-generation biofuels made from food crops, second-generation marine fuels are largely derived from waste oils, tallow and agricultural residues. Argent Energy, Swire’s sister company and a specialist in waste-based biodiesel, will supply feedstock alongside BP’s Singapore bunker operations. Together, they’re exploring locally sourced oils—even coconut waste, ubiquitous across Pacific islands—as potential future inputs. By repurposing “used” resources, the program not only slashes lifecycle emissions by as much as 90 percent compared to diesel but also diverts thousands of tonnes of organic waste from landfills annually.
Voyage to Zero: Beyond the Engine Room
The biofuel trial dovetails with Swire Shipping’s newly launched “Voyage to Zero” carbon abatement program. Participating customers will earn independently-verified certificates reflecting the CO₂ savings from their cargo, translating into quantifiable Scope 3 emission reductions. In its inaugural year, Swire projects the initiative will remove the carbon equivalent of nearly 2,700 cars from the road—enough to circle the globe over 35 times.
“Islands like Fiji, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands face existential risks as sea levels rise,” says Jeremy Sutton, Swire Shipping’s CEO. “This bold step underscores our commitment to a cleaner, greener shipping industry and to the communities that depend on us.” Susana Germino, Chief Sustainability & Energy Transition Officer, adds that the biofuel program is central to hitting Swire Shipping’s voluntary emissions reduction targets for 2027 and beyond.
Building on Early Success
Swire’s biofuel journey began in August 2024, when MV Suva Chief trialed B24 bunkering in Hong Kong through partners Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical and the Hafnia Bunker Alliance. The trial vessel’s seamless performance demonstrated that no major engine modifications were necessary, paving the way for full-scale deployment across the PWX and ETS fleets.
A Template for Global Decarbonization
Pacific island nations have also called for a global greenhouse gas pricing mechanism in maritime transport—an idea gaining traction at the International Maritime Organization. Revenue from such a levy could fund climate adaptation and encourage wider uptake of zero-emission technologies, aligning with Swire’s own ethos of equitable transition.
Louise Calviou, CEO of Argent Energy, highlights the broader implications: “Our collaboration shows that international partnerships can rapidly accelerate the move towards waste-derived fuels. Swire’s leadership sends a clear signal: sustainable shipping is not an aspiration but an imperative.”
As these vessels set sail on greener tides, the partnership between shipping lines, biofuel innovators and island-nation stakeholders offers a compelling blueprint for decarbonizing one of the world’s most essential—and once-overlooked—arteries of trade. The South Pacific, long at the mercy of climate change, may soon be at the forefront of the shipping industry’s sustainability revolution.
