Everett-based Coast Guard ship testing biofuel

SEATTLE — The buoy tender Henry Blake made its rounds of navigation aids on Puget Sound Thursday powered with fuel partly made from algae.

It fueled up Wednesday at its home port in Everett with a 50-50 blend of diesel and algae oil as the Coast Guard’s first ship to test biofuel, officials said.

The Coast Guard is partnering in the research with the Navy, which plans to demonstrate its “Great Green Fleet” with the Nimitz strike group during the Rim of the Pacific, or RIMPAC, international military exercise beginning June 29 around the Hawaiian Islands.

The 175-foot Henry Blake is a good test vessel for the fuel as its engines rev up to speed from buoy to buoy then idle during maintenance, said Sam Alvord, energy reliability section chief with the Coast Guard’s Office of Energy Management in Washington, D.C.

“We know these fuels are coming,” he said Thursday. “When these are available through the Defense Logistics Agency, we’ll be a consumer of them.”

The Coast Guard test is a full evaluation that will last through the summer, not a brief, isolated batch run.

“What’s unique about the Henry Blake is to fully load the cutter and run it,” he said. “This is the first time the whole ship system has been analyzed.”

Every tank on the cutter was filled with the blend. In addition to the main engine propulsion, biofuel is being used for emergency equipment, backup pumps and a small launch — “everything that runs diesel on this ship is running this fuel.”

In the first day of the Henry Blake’s green voyage there were no problems, Alvord said. The tender, with a crew of 28, maintains more than 200 buoys on shore-based navigation aids in Washington.

The Navy provided the fuel to the Coast Guard as a partner in the research

“They get data and we get data on another diesel engine,” said Richard Leung, fuel engineering manager with Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C.

Another Everett-based ship, the aircraft carrier Nimitz, will play a role in biofuel testing during the RIMPAC 2012, which runs to Aug. 3. It won’t burn biofuel itself, but its aircraft will burn a blend of aviation fuel and biofuel made from the camelina plant, Leung said.

Three of the ships in the Nimitz strike group — the guided-missile cruiser Princeton from San Diego and two destroyers from Pearl Harbor, the Chung-Hoon and Chaffee — will burn the blend of diesel and biofuel made from algae, Leung said.

About 900,000 gallons of biofuels and traditional petroleum-based fuels were loaded on the Military Sea Command oiler Henry J. Kaiser on June 13 at the Defense Fuel Support Point, at Manchester, near Bremerton. It will deliver the fuel to the Great Green Fleet demonstration, the Navy said.

RIMPAC will involve a total of 42 ships, six submarines and more than 200 aircraft from 22 nations. Moviegoers will know RIMPAC from the movie “Battleship.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

District 2 candidates differ in public safety approach

Incumbent Paula Rhyne is facing challenger Ryan Crowther. The third candidate, Jonathan Shapiro, is no longer seeking the seat.

From left to right, Edmonds City Council Position 3 candidates Joseph Ademofe, Alex Newman and Erika Barnett.
Amid budget crisis, Edmonds City Council candidates talk revenue, affordability

Three newcomers are facing off for Position 3 on the council, currently held by council President Neil Tibbott.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Everett
Everett approves new fines for non-emergency lifts

The fire department will only issue fines for non-emergency lift assists at licensed care facilities, not for individuals at home calling 911.

Guns for sale at Caso’s Gun-A-Rama in Jersey City, New Jersey, which has been open since 1967. (Photo by Aristide Economopoulos/New Jersey Monitor)
After suing, WA gets carveout from Trump administration plan to return gun conversion devices

The Trump administration has agreed to not distribute devices that turn semi-automatic… Continue reading

The Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility about 16 miles east of Ellensburg in central Washington is part of Puget Sound Energy’s clean energy portfolio. (Courtesy of Puget Sound Energy)
Megabill’s elimination of tax credits for clean energy projects could cost WA $8.7 billion

Washington households could see electricity costs increase $115 per year by 2029; 21,800 workers could lose their jobs by 2030, analysts say.

Everett mayor candidates focus on affordability, city budget in costly race

As incumbent Cassie Franklin seeks a third term in office, three candidates are looking to unseat her.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.