World’s first unmanned marine station

The new unmanned mobile facility design is patent-pending and compliant with the same strict environmental and safety standards as a modern unmanned station on land, explains Fossil Free Marine. It bridges the distribution gap from suppliers of sustainable fuels to boat owners wishing to reduce their environmental impact. ‘For the first time, boaters can now conveniently access modern drop-in renewable fuels that can be run in any diesel or gas engine, resulting in immediate and substantial reductions in CO2 emissions (up to 90% reduction of CO2e with, for example, HVO100),’ says the company.

The initiative is partly funded by grants from the KlimatKlivet (Climate Leap) and is part of a Swedish government scheme that supports local climate investments.

The mobile fuel station will be 24 metres long, 4.3 metres wide and weigh approximately 35 tonnes when empty. Its internal volume will measure 60 m3, divided into six separate fuel tanks capable of handling a range of liquid fuels, including biofuels. It will offer fully unmanned operations 24/7, 365 days of the year, and have a life expectancy of more than 50 years.

HVO100 (hydrotreated vegetable oil) fuel is made from 100% renewable feedstock using sustainably sourced vegetable and animal matter and is free from any fossil fuels. It has a chemical structure similar to diesel fuel and can act as a drop-in fuel without harm to a vessel’s engine.