‘K’ Line Port Service, a group company of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (‘K’ Line), has conducted a demonstration voyage with the tugboat ‘Aihomaru’ operating in Nagoya Port using next-generation biodiesel fuel.
Biodiesel fuel is carbon neutral defined in the IPCC guidelines and a decarbonised fuel that can be used without changing the specifications of existing marine diesel engines by mixed combustion with HFO, the main fuel for ships.
The biodiesel was supplied by Toyotsu Energy Corporation, and is made from waste cooking oil. This initiative contributes to a circular economy through the construction of a supply chain based on local production for local consumption. In the demonstrative test voyage, the bunkering vessel supplied marine biofuel to the Aihomaru using a ship-to-ship method, with the aims of verifying that there is no hindrance to the series of ship operations and reducing CO2 emissions in operation.
The ‘K’ Line Group long-term environmental guidelines set a target of 50% improvement in CO2 emission efficiency in comparison with 2008, which exceeds the 2030 target of 40% improvement in CO2 emission efficiency (also in comparison with 2008) set by the IMO. ‘K’ Line’s target is to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. The Group will continue working to achieve these targets by introducing alternative fuels that can reduce its environmental impact.
