The integrity of marine biofuel supply chains has come under closer scrutiny following the release of a new report by the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD), which provides evidence that tracer technologies can play a pivotal role in combating fraud and strengthening confidence in sustainable fuels.
The findings are based on a two-year programme of field trials in Singapore, Rotterdam and other key bunkering hubs in the world’s first operational validation of tracer solutions in marine fuels. The trials tested three candidates: synthetic DNA, element-based metalloid and a non-fluorescent organic tracer, by introducing them at early points in the supply chain and monitoring their presence through storage and eventual use onboard vessels.
Across six trials, 10,400 tonnes of biofuel blends were bunkered, delivering an average 24% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional fuels. Results showed that while all three tracers could be detected, the organic tracer emerged as the most practical for commercial use, combining accuracy with cost efficiency and scalability. Detection was consistent across supply chain stages, with discrepancies of less than 5% at concentrations below five parts per million.
By contrast, synthetic DNA tracers faced issues with inconsistent detection downstream, possibly due to thermal degradation, while the metalloid-based option proved resilient but raised concerns over quantification accuracy at low concentrations.
The trials address a significant gap in current assurance mechanisms. Existing certification schemes such as the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) verify emissions reductions and regulatory compliance but lack physical, field-level validation. This has left supply chains vulnerable to adulteration and raised the risk of emissions savings being double counted for subsidy claims. High-profile fraud cases in recent years have heightened industry concern.
Professor Lynn Loo, CEO of GCMD, said: ‘Our pilot has demonstrated the viability of physical tracers in safeguarding the integrity of marine biofuel supply chains. This was made possible through close collaboration with marine fuel suppliers, end-users, surveyors, testing laboratories, and tracer technology providers.’
The work forms part of GCMD’s broader effort to establish a framework for quality, quantity and greenhouse gas abatement assurances in drop-in fuels, seen as vital to scaling the use of biofuels such as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO). Both are among the most commercially viable near-term options for shipping, given their compatibility with existing infrastructure and shipboard systems.
For widespread adoption, the report calls for institutional backing, including legislation for tracer deployment, standardised protocols and interoperable data systems for real-time verification. GCMD has also produced a benchmarking framework to help stakeholders evaluate tracer technologies on cost, detectability and operational feasibility.
