For Furetank, the future of marine fuel is looking bright, thanks to its implementation of mass-balanced biomethane. Having long been focused on finding innovative solutions that prioritise quality, safety and efficiency on board, the company has taken a holistic approach to reducing the environmental impact of its vessels. Sustainability Strategist Viktoria Höglund, Technical Manager Clas Gustafsson and General Manager Chartering David Andersson discussed what this means for the company, in a report by Imogen Ward.
When it comes to the day-to-day decision-making of companies like Furetank, securing the future of the business is a key consideration. That is why long-term thinking has been central to the company’s approach, shaping its commercial strategy and its relationships with customers, suppliers and partners, as well as its approach to sustainability.
“Furetank has always held a very long-term mindset,” explained General Manager Chartering David Andersson. “This, alongside the support of our highly-experienced team, has really helped to build Furetank’s commercial success.”
“This long-term approach has benefited both Furetank and its clients in a number of different ways,” acknowledged Sustainability Strategist Viktoria Höglund. “Sustainability is one particular area where we have really focused our efforts.”
Green foundations
Furetank’s dedication to sustainability is embedded throughout the company’s history – starting with the double hull, which was integrated into Furetank’s vessel designs long before it was required by regulation.
Around the same time, the European Union Sulphur Directive was released, which sought to limit the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions and improve air quality.
This encouraged Furetank to begin looking into alternative options, eventually landing on LNG and converting its first vessel from a conventional design to a dual-fuel operation.
“We carried that experience with us during the development of Vinga: our latest series of vessels,” explained Ms Höglund. “Our success in dual-fuelled-vessels powered on LNG gave us the confidence to integrate a new alternative fuel option, and the idea for mass-balanced biomethane was born.”
“Our previous models were a great role model for the cargo systems and so on,” added Technical Manager Clas Gustafsson. “Simultaneously, we used these designs as a foundation for what could be improved to make an even more efficient vessel. Just like their predecessors, the Vinga vessels needed to be environmentally friendly, while also maintaining our Ice Class 1A status.”
A sharper design
As a result of this brainstorming, the Vinga Series was developed with a reduced design speed.
The transition to a lower design speed was fairly radical at the time and unlocked more versatility within the engine room. Having previously relied on a design speed of 14.5 knots, the company successfully reduced vessel speed to 13 knots. This reduction enabled the company to utilise a smaller main engine that had enough PTI power to achieve Ice Class 1A, before eventually transitioning to ducted propellers that could meet Ice Class 1A requirements without PTI.
“This transition meant that we could use the main engine as a generator when we discharged cargo,” explained Mr Gustaffsson. “This really led to a lot of other design factors falling into place, as we worked to create more efficient vessels.”
Furetank’s design team also incorporated electric cargo pumps into the vessels, to help lower energy consumption and noise, as well as additional engine silencers and full 6.6kV shore power connection. This allowed for the efficient use of the vessels’ cargo pumps during cargo discharge.
With 19 vessels already delivered, and even more expected to arrive between January and May next year, Furetank is well on its way to building a large, homogenous fleet.
Interestingly, these efforts also played a huge role in the company’s ability to meet the 2040 EU greenhouse gas intensity targets 15 years ahead of schedule.
A smarter strategy
“Furetank has always done a fantastic job of meeting environmental targets, and we have clearly demonstrated how much can be achieved in a relatively short period of time,” shared Ms Höglund. “We already met our 2040 target by 2025, and one of the key factors that enabled us to do so was our focus on the fuels available today. I think the industry is very focused on the fuels of tomorrow, which, of course, is important. However, we also need to take action now, while we are waiting for these fuels to become available.”
The company’s continued success is very much a team effort. From the dedication and hard work of every employee to the continued patronage of its customers and the ongoing support of its partners, Furetank would not have achieved such an ambitious feat without these amazing individuals.
FKAB Marine Design is one such partner that has had a monumental impact on Furetank’s success.
“We have maintained a strong relationship with FKAB Marine Design for four decades,” explained Mr Gustafsson. “This has given the company a unique understanding of our vessels and our history, enabling the FKAB team to offer ideas that are highly relevant to our vision for the business. FKAB was also involved in the dual-fuel conversion project we implemented back in 2013, supplying all the necessary drawings.”
When asked what encouraged people to work with Furetank, Mr Andersson highlighted that: “It is inspiring to work with a company that you know is investing as much as Furetank has into the segment. The owner has dedicated a lot of time and money into what he believes is the right vessel design, and that is incredibly commendable.
“Additionally, being a smaller business means we can add a more personal touch and given that the market is small to begin with, we often end up doing business with the same people that we like and trust.”
Looking to the future, Furetank is dedicated to collaborating with these partners to enhance its operational resiliency and create more future-proofed designs.
“On a vessel level, we have been investing in very reliable systems that are built for a specific trade,” said Mr Andersson, in conclusion. “This includes technologies that allow our vessels to operate year-round in Northwest Europe. We are also focused on enhancing safety, improving our vetting process and upgrading our cybersecurity. For us, resilience means continuing to serve customers safely and in a reliable way.”