Supply of HVO fuel to RRS Discovery and RRS James Cook September 2026

Supply of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel to two National Oceanography Centre research vessels by way of two bunker deliveries at two ports on consecutive days.

Delivery D-01: RRS Discovery (IMO No. 9588029), Kings Wharf, Cardiff, UK. Estimated quantity (252,000 litres). Required delivery date 15 September 2026.

Delivery D-02: RRS James Cook (IMO No. 9338242), NOC Berth, Southampton, UK. Estimated quantity 430 metric tonnes, approximately 551,000 litres. Required delivery date 16 September 2026.

Aggregate estimated quantity approximately 803,000 litres. All quantities are estimates. The final invoiced quantity for each delivery will be confirmed by the Bunker Delivery Note for that delivery and by the actual density recorded on the Certificate of Analysis at 15 degrees Celsius.

Delivery is by road tank wagon (RTW) to each vessel at its stated berth.

Fuel must comply with EN 15940 and must be derived from used cooking oil (UCO) feedstock only, with no palm oil, palm oil sludge, POME, or animal fats. Sulphur content must comply with MARPOL Annex VI and the applicable MCA requirements, at less than 5 mg/kg (5 ppm). Flash point must be not less than 60 degrees Celsius, in line with SOLAS. CFPP must be minus 15 degrees Celsius or lower. Greenhouse gas emissions intensity of 15.86 gCO2e/MJ with a minimum 83 per cent saving against fossil diesel, and biogenic carbon (C14) testing on all imports.

The supplier must be registered on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Local Fuel Oil Suppliers Register as compliant with MARPOL Annex VI.

At the time of each bunkering the supplier must provide the fuel specification, representative fuel samples, a Technical Data Sheet with Certificate of Analysis, and a Safety Data Sheet to the Chief Engineer. A Bunker Delivery Note must be provided in the MARPOL Annex VI Appendix V format, stating quantity in metric tonnes, carrying the supplier's signed declaration that the fuel meets the fuel quality requirements of MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 18, together with the sulphur content statement and the flash point statement.

The following sustainability documentation is required for each delivery: proof of sustainability of the biofuel component, certified under either ISCC or RFAS 2 Heat-Power-Marine (RSB is not required), a biofuel delivery statement, and the greenhouse gas emissions data for the fuel supplied. Fuel is to be supplied on a non-obligated basis in line with the requirements for marine research use.