VESSEL REVIEW | President 100 – Singapore operator acquires biodiesel-powered utility craft

President 100, a 16-metre (52-foot) aluminium utility boat operated by Singapore’s Prestige Ocean, has completed a 1,000-hour operational trial running entirely on B100 biodiesel in Singapore waters.

Builder Pinnacle Marine (Singapore) announced completion on January 11, 2026, following a programme that began in July 2025.

Weichai Indonesia described the newbuild as Singapore’s first harbour craft powered entirely by biodiesel. Her name combines a reference to Pinnacle Marine’s first aluminium boat, President, with the fuel designation.

President 100 is classed by China Classification Society (CCS). An enclosed wheelhouse sits above the main deck, while tyre fenders line the hull sides.

Engines and generators all configured to run on biodiesel

Weichai Singapore’s launch announcement identified two WP13C450-18BF engines and two CCFJ20J-W5BF generators. The company said the equipment was engineered for operation on B100, covering both main propulsion and onboard electricity generation.

Pinnacle Marine’s keel-laying announcement specified two main engines that each produce 450 hp (340 kW). Each generator was listed at 20 kW.

The generator selection extends the biodiesel installation beyond the propulsion engines. Both machinery groups are specified for B100, allowing the research programme to examine the fuel in propulsion service as well as in the equipment supplying onboard electrical loads.

The research trial began on July 9, 2025. It was designed to assess fuel behaviour, vessel performance, emissions and reliability under operating conditions in Singapore waters. Pinnacle subsequently announced that the boat had completed 1,000 operational hours using B100 throughout the test period.

Research was undertaken by Nanyang Technological University’s Maritime Energy and Sustainable Development Centre of Excellence.

Weichai Singapore engineered the biodiesel engine, while CCS’ Singapore branch and Pinnacle Marine participated in the collaboration. Wilmar International supplied the trial fuel.

Pinnacle Marine said the completed programme showed that sustainable biofuels could be put into use at once as commercially viable alternatives to traditional marine fuels.

The company later cited the operational trial as validation of the propulsion system selected for its next series of B100-compatible utility boats.

Proven propulsion selection to be applied to future builds

On May 6, 2026, Pinnacle Marine announced construction plans for five 20-metre (15-foot) aluminium B100-compatible utility boats for Prestige Ocean.

Each vessel was specified with Weichai WP13C450-18BF engines, with Pinnacle Marine citing the President 100 trial in support of the selection.

The company scheduled the first keel-laying for May 15 and targeted completion of all five boats by the end of September 2026. All five were to be constructed to CCS class.

The announced follow-on specification increases hull length from 16 to 20 metres while retaining the WP13C450-18BF engine model used aboard President 100.