Neste is partnering with PTL Marine to provide Neste MY Renewable Diesel to the marine sector across California. PTL Marine, a division of Pilot Thomas Logistics, is a leading provider of maritime fuel and lubricants, supplies and last-mile logistics. Through this collaboration the state’s marine industry will have easier access to renewable diesel.

California’s Commercial Harbor Craft (CHC) regulation, established by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), took effect on 1 January 2023. This regulation requires commercial harbor craft vessels in the state to use renewable diesel (also known locally as R99 or R100) instead of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) to limit emissions such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides for vessels operating in the state’s ports and near the coast.

The regulation applies to the use of on-water diesel fuels in California harbors, ports, navigable waterways, marinas and marine navigation districts.

Port-related emissions from fossil fuel use impact public health and the climate, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A California Air Resources Board (ARB) research study found that renewable diesel, when compared with fossil diesel, can provide up to a 26.6% reduction in fine particulate emissions and up to 11.8% reduction in the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) in harbor crafts equipped with a Tier 2 marine-certified engine.

Additionally, renewable diesel is an immediately available solution to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Made from sustainably-sourced, 100% renewable raw materials, the use of Neste MY Renewable Diesel results in up to 75% reduced GHG emissions over its life cycle compared to fossil diesel.

Since Neste MY Renewable Diesel has a similar chemical composition to fossil diesel, it can be used as a drop-in solution in all diesel-powered vessels without investments into new vehicle fleets, modifications to the engines or the fuel distribution infrastructure. It also delivers strong performance and meets all of the CARB requirements, including a flash point of 140ºF or greater.

With decades of experience in providing fuels and lubricants to marine customers, PTL Marine can deliver Neste MY Renewable Diesel to customers in a timely manner with three modes of delivery: truck to the vessel, dockside services, and barge to the vessel. These various delivery modes enable a range of harbor craft, from small ferries to large commercial fishing boats, as well as offshore working boats and large cargo ships to easily access renewable fuel.

Neste has been supplying renewable diesel to California since 2016. Neste now has an annual production capacity of 1.14 billion gallons (3.3 million tons) of renewable products globally. The production capacity will further increase to 1.9 billion gallons (5.5 million tons) in early 2024 due to the ramp-up of production at Neste’s expanded refinery in Singapore and the company’s joint operation with Marathon Petroleum in Martinez, CA.