New Biofuel Standard for Maritime Shipping: NEN 7427-1 Released

The Royal Netherlands Standardization Institute (NEN) has launched a standard for biofuels in the maritime industry. Designed to complement the existing ISO 8217 standard, this development marks a significant step toward upscaling sustainable fuels in marine shipping.

This standard addresses the need for precise quality specifications for biofuels like FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters) and M-FAME (Marine FAME), which can be blended with conventional marine fuels. Unlike the existing ISO 8217 standard, which governs marine fuel quality but was not originally developed with biofuels in mind, NEN 7427-1 is specifically designed to accommodate the unique requirements of biofuel usage in shipping.

The development of NEN 7427-1 reflects a collaborative effort among Dutch and Belgian experts, including representatives from petroleum and biodiesel industries and the shipping sector. The initiative supports global efforts to decarbonize maritime operations, providing a pathway for the shipping industry to meet ambitious emission reduction targets through the adoption of sustainable fuels. The new standard also aims to align with international frameworks, potentially influencing updates to ISO 8217 by formally integrating marine biofuels into global guidelines.

For further details, the standard is available here​.

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