(QUEBEC CITY) — Ocean Group is taking another step toward greener shipping with the adoption of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), a new-generation renewable diesel fuel, for all company port towing operations in British Columbia.
HVO is made from renewable sources, including vegetable oils, residues of plant or animal origin, and used oils such as those derived from frying. This fuel has the major advantage of reducing CO2 emissions by about 80 percent compared with traditional fossil fuels, offering a significant solution for reducing the shipping industry’s carbon footprint.
Since 2023, Ocean Group has been testing the efficiency of HVO at its Delta Port and Fraser River sites. After months of data analysis and obtaining the necessary authorizations from Transport Canada, the company is ready to finalize the transition to this environmentally friendly fuel by the end of 2024.
Eventually, all Ocean Group tugs in British Columbia will be powered by this sustainable energy source, marking a turning point in the company’s environmental strategy.
This change is not just a technical initiative. It is part of a wider strategy that underlines a commitment to reducing the ecological footprint of the company’s marine activities. The transition to HVO also reinforces the collaborative agreement signed in 2023 between Ocean Group and Musqueam Capital Corp., a key partner on the Fraser River and the Musqueam territory.
This agreement aims to promote more sustainable and environmentally friendly navigation, while strengthening the economic and cultural ties between the two parties. This includes the ability to develop initiatives that lead to career opportunities for members of the Musqueam community, both on the water and ashore.
The first initiative of this type involved training members of the community in maritime-related jobs. Since then, eight members have taken part in the program and three graduates are now employed full time on Group Ocean’s Fraser River and Vancouver Harbor tugs within Musqueam territory.
– Ocean Group
