Grainnet

Date Posted: September 10, 2007

by Myke Feinman, BioFuels Journal Editor

On a tour in August and September up the Illinois River, the LST 325, a World War II ship, used B11 biodiesel fuel donated by the Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Corn Growers Association and Growmark.

Peoria, IL--As more than 24,000 people shuffled on board the World War II-era LST 325 ship while docked along the Illinois River in Peoria, August and September, they passed a banner proudly proclaiming “Fueled by Biodiesel.”

Hanging that banner on the sides of the ship was important to LST 325 Captain Robert Jornlin, a retired Earlville, IL, farmer.

“I believe in promoting biofuels like biodiesel and ethanol,” Jornlin said.

“I’d rather see us running our buses, trains and trucks on it than sending the money to Iran or Iraq. They (Iran and Iraq) just take the money to buy bombs.

"If Americans buy biodiesel and ethanol, it supports the farmers—farmers who pay taxes and buy new combines. That’s what I call trickle-up economics.”

World II-Era Ship

The Landing Ship Tank (LST), which took part in the D-Day invasion of Europe in World War II, was designed to carry troops, tanks and other weapons to enemy shores.

Its flat bottom allowed the ship to pull close to the shore, which also allows it to easily navigate rivers.

The ship was procured by a group of aging World War II veterans in 2000 and sailed back from Greece, 6,500 miles to America, for the purpose of creating a floating memorial to the men who served on board all LSTs.

Since the 2000 voyage, the ship has been touring America’s waterways, home ported in Evansville, IN.

The ship’s 2007 tour is not its first trip utilizing biodiesel. In 2006, for a trip from Evansville to Cincinnati, OH, the ship’s vintage engines burned 3% biodiesel.

Jornlin was convinced by fellow farmer and crew member, Kenny Adams, to use the biodiesel blend in 2006.

LST 325 Captain Robert Jornlin displays a banner on his ship indicating the fuel utilized.

“We use B20 in our farm implements,” Adams, of Covington, OH, said. “My son runs 50% biodiesel. We’ve never had any trouble.”

1940s Engine

And the LST 325, designed in the 1940s to run on petroleum diesel, had no difficulties in 2006 with the 3% blend of biodiesel.

On this year’s trip, the ship utilized an 11% blend, still having no mechanical difficulties.

Jornlin said the 7,600 gallons of B11 fuel used on the trip were donated by the Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Corn Growers, and Growmark.

The LST 325, with its 190,000 gallon tank capacity, pulled up to Growmark’s Havana, IL facility to fuel up, the largest size tank ever to fuel at the facility, Jornlin said.

For more information, call 812-435-8678.

See Related Websites/Articles:

• LST 325 Ship Memorial Organization

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