Neste bunkers Tara Polar Station with renewable diesel for Arctic expedition

France’s Tara Ocean Foundation has bunkered its research vessel, Tara Polar Station, with around 90,000 litres of renewable diesel supplied by Finnish oil company Neste.

IMAGE: Tara Ocean Foundation’s drifting laboratory and observatory station Tara Polar Station. Neste

The research vessel is a drifting laboratory and observatory—a mobile research facility that drifts with ocean currents or sea ice while conducting scientific observations and experiments.

The Tara Polar Station departed from its home port of Lorient, France, and stopped in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, for bunkering. While moored at an OK (Catom) marine bunker fuel station, one of Neste’s renewable diesel distributors in the Netherlands, it took on renewable diesel before continuing its voyage to Norway. The vessel is then scheduled to head into the Arctic to begin its expedition in mid-August.

Neste’s renewable diesel is produced from renewable feedstocks such as used cooking oil and animal fat waste through hydrotreatment technology. The fuel can be used in existing engines and fuelling infrastructure without requiring any modifications.

Most of the renewable diesel will be used to power onboard generators and heating systems, while the remaining volume will fuel the research vessel's propulsion.

The Tara Polar Station is set to embark on its first 18-month expedition during 2026–2027, marking the start of a 20-year scientific programme involving 30 renowned research institutes.

During the expedition, the station will drift across the Central Arctic Ocean and remain locked in sea ice for around 90% of the mission. With no opportunity to refuel and operations taking place in extreme polar conditions, fuel reliability is crucial.

Neste said its renewable diesel remains operable at temperatures as low as -32°C.

By Tuhin Roy

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