The latest news to come out of the US Navy is that NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) San Diego personnel successfully loaded the Self Defense Test Ship (SDTS) with a breakthrough alternative fuel blend on 16 November at the Defense Fuel Supply Point (DFSP) in San Diego.
In preparation for the Navy's largest demonstration of shipboard alternative fuel use, NAVSUP FLC San Diego fuel department personnel transferred about 20,000 gallons of a 50-50 blend of hydro-processed algae-derived algal oil and petroleum F-76 to SDTS, a decommissioned Spruance-class destroyer formerly known as Paul F. Foster (EDD 964).
Three tanker trucks transferred the fuel to SDTS over a six-hour period at the supply point's Pier 180 aboard Naval Base Point Loma. Following the fueling operation, SDTS set sail for its 17-hour test transit back to Port Hueneme, Calif. "The alternative fuel is really a drop-in fuel, meaning we conduct the entire fueling evolution just as we would with traditional fuels, making it not only beneficial for the environment, but also convenient for us as operators," said Lt. Cmdr. Frank Kim, fuel officer for NAVSUP FLC San Diego. "We use the same types of trucks, hoses and other pierside equipment to transfer the fuel, and no modifications are required either from a fueling perspective or on the shipboard side. It's going to be pretty amazing to see where these fuels take us in the future."
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations and Environment) Jackalyne Pfannenstiel and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy) Thomas Hicks were present during the fueling evolution and hosted a question-and-answer session about the alternative fuel and the imminent demonstration.
Following its decommissioning, SDTS was reconfigured to provide the Navy an at-sea, remotely controlled engineering test and evaluation platform without the risk to personnel or operational assets. The ship successfully concluded the demonstration upon its 17 November arrival at Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme.
The Navy continues to test alternative fuels as part of the energy strategy developed to enhance energy security and environmental stewardship while reducing greenhouse emissions.
"This might be the largest demonstration to date, but it won't be the last," Kim said. "We're charged with fueling the fleet, and wherever the Navy's energy innovations take us, that's where we'll be. Years back, we focused only on traditional petroleum products, but now we're going to keep the pace to do our part in meeting the Navy's energy goals and eventually powering our great green fleet."
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