Regional Container Lines Public Company Limited (RCL) reports that it has completed its first voyage using biofuel, marking the firm's entry into alternative marine fuel operations.

The Thai shipping company said its vessel, M.V. Piya Bhum, departed Laem Chabang port on October 19 bound for Ho Chi Minh City, running on B24-VLSFO — a blend of very-low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) with a 24% ratio of biofuel.

The 1,707 TEU capacity containership operates on RCL's RSK2 service route, which connects ports across China, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

According to RCL, the B24 fuel blend is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 15% to 19.2% compared to conventional marine fuel.

"The use of this biofuel reduces the carbon footprint of the RCL fleet without compromising efficiency, contributing to the company's long-term sustainability goals. By continuously investing in a cleaner, more efficient fleet, RCL is building a more sustainable future for marine container shipping," RCL commented.

Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Bangkok, RCL's core business is in the transportation of containers within Asia. In May 2025, the firm said that it owned and operated a fleet of 45 vessels with sizes ranging between 388 TEUs and 11,714 TEUs.